But even supposing so , there is a good deal of heather between here and the Forth . '' `` And that is a very true word , '' says Alan . `` But then John Breck will see the sprig of birch and the sprig of pine ; and he will say to himsel ' -LRB- if he is a man of any penetration at all , which I misdoubt -RRB- , ALAN WILL BE LYING IN A WOOD WHICH IS BOTH OF PINES AND BIRCHES . Then he will think to himsel ' , THAT IS NOT SO VERY RIFE HEREABOUT ; and then he will come and give us a look up in Corrynakiegh . And if he does not , David , the devil may fly away with him , for what I care ; for he will no be worth the salt to his porridge . '' `` Eh , man , '' said I , drolling with him a little , `` you 're very ingenious ! But would it not be simpler for you to write him a few words in black and white ? '' `` And that is an excellent observe , Mr. Balfour of Shaws , '' says Alan , drolling with me ; `` and it would certainly be much simpler for me to write to him , but it would be a sore job for John Breck to read it . He would have to go to the school for two-three years ; and it 's possible we might be wearied waiting on him . '' So that night Alan carried down his fiery cross and set it in the bouman 's window . He was troubled when he came back ; for the dogs had barked and the folk run out from their houses ; and he thought he had heard a clatter of arms and seen a red-coat come to one of the doors . On all accounts we lay the next day in the borders of the wood and kept a close look-out , so that if it was John Breck that came we might be ready to guide him , and if it was the red-coats we should have time to get away . About noon a man was to be spied , straggling up the open side of the mountain in the sun , and looking round him as he came , from under his hand . No sooner had Alan seen him than he whistled ; the man turned and came a little towards us : then Alan would give another `` peep ! '' and the man would come still nearer ; and so by the sound of whistling , he was guided to the spot where we lay . He was a ragged , wild , bearded man , about forty , grossly disfigured with the small pox , and looked both dull and savage . Although his English was very bad and broken , yet Alan -LRB- according to his very handsome use , whenever I was by -RRB- would suffer him to speak no Gaelic . Perhaps the strange language made him appear more backward than he really was ; but I thought he had little good-will to serve us , and what he had was the child of terror . Alan would have had him carry a message to James ; but the bouman would hear of no message . `` She was forget it , '' he said in his screaming voice ; and would either have a letter or wash his hands of us .
I thought XXXXX would be gravelled at that , for we lacked the means of writing in that desert .
Alan Breck Corrynakiegh David English HEREABOUT bouman himsel pox years