Still , I cried out that he was unjust to the Duke of Argyle , who -LRB- for all he was a Whig -RRB- was yet a wise and honest nobleman . `` Hoot ! '' said Alan , `` the man 's a Whig , nae doubt ; but I would never deny he was a good chieftain to his clan . And what would the clan think if there was a Campbell shot , and naebody hanged , and their own chief the Justice General ? But I have often observed , '' says Alan , `` that you Low-country bodies have no clear idea of what 's right and wrong . '' At this I did at last laugh out aloud , when to my surprise , Alan joined in , and laughed as merrily as myself . `` Na , na , '' said he , `` we 're in the Hielands , David ; and when I tell ye to run , take my word and run . Nae doubt it 's a hard thing to skulk and starve in the Heather , but it 's harder yet to lie shackled in a red-coat prison . '' I asked him whither we should flee ; and as he told me `` to the Lowlands , '' I was a little better inclined to go with him ; for , indeed , I was growing impatient to get back and have the upper-hand of my uncle . Besides , Alan made so sure there would be no question of justice in the matter , that I began to be afraid he might be right . Of all deaths , I would truly like least to die by the gallows ; and the picture of that uncanny instrument came into my head with extraordinary clearness -LRB- as I had once seen it engraved at the top of a pedlar 's ballad -RRB- and took away my appetite for courts of justice . `` I 'll chance it , Alan , '' said I. `` I 'll go with you . '' `` But mind you , '' said Alan , `` it 's no small thing . Ye maun lie bare and hard , and brook many an empty belly . Your bed shall be the moorcock 's , and your life shall be like the hunted deer 's , and ye shall sleep with your hand upon your weapons . Ay , man , ye shall taigle many a weary foot , or we get clear ! I tell ye this at the start , for it 's a life that I ken well . But if ye ask what other chance ye have , I answer : Nane . Either take to the heather with me , or else hang . '' `` And that 's a choice very easily made , '' said I ; and we shook hands upon it .
`` And now let 's take another keek at the red-coats , '' says XXXXX , and he led me to the north-eastern fringe of the wood .
Alan Argyle Campbell General Hielands Na Nane pedlar right upper-hand