The woman was so little , and the night still so dark , that we soon lost sight of her ; only heard the sound of her steps , and her stick , and a cough that she had by fits , draw slowly farther away . `` She 's bound to be across now , '' I whispered . `` Na , '' said Alan , `` her foot still sounds boss * upon the bridge . '' * Hollow . And just then -- `` Who goes ? '' cried a voice , and we heard the butt of a musket rattle on the stones . I must suppose the sentry had been sleeping , so that had we tried , we might have passed unseen ; but he was awake now , and the chance forfeited . `` This 'll never do , '' said Alan . `` This 'll never , never do for us , David . '' And without another word , he began to crawl away through the fields ; and a little after , being well out of eye-shot , got to his feet again , and struck along a road that led to the eastward . I could not conceive what he was doing ; and indeed I was so sharply cut by the disappointment , that I was little likely to be pleased with anything . A moment back and I had seen myself knocking at Mr. Rankeillor 's door to claim my inheritance , like a hero in a ballad ; and here was I back again , a wandering , hunted blackguard , on the wrong side of Forth . `` Well ? '' said I. `` Well , '' said Alan , `` what would ye have ? They 're none such fools as I took them for . We have still the Forth to pass , Davie -- weary fall the rains that fed and the hillsides that guided it ! '' `` And why go east ? '' said I. `` Ou , just upon the chance ! '' said he . `` If we cannae pass the river , we 'll have to see what we can do for the firth . ''
`` There are fords upon the river , and none upon the firth , '' said I. `` To be sure there are fords , and a bridge forbye , '' quoth XXXXX ; `` and of what service , when they are watched ? ''
Alan David Davie Na Ou Rankeillor blackguard eye-shot firth hillsides