`` Your affectionate cousin , `` A. S. '' This he intrusted to the bouman , who promised to make what manner of speed he best could , and carried it off with him down the hill . He was three full days gone , but about five in the evening of the third , we heard a whistling in the wood , which Alan answered ; and presently the bouman came up the water-side , looking for us , right and left . He seemed less sulky than before , and indeed he was no doubt well pleased to have got to the end of such a dangerous commission . He gave us the news of the country ; that it was alive with red-coats ; that arms were being found , and poor folk brought in trouble daily ; and that James and some of his servants were already clapped in prison at Fort William , under strong suspicion of complicity . It seemed it was noised on all sides that Alan Breck had fired the shot ; and there was a bill issued for both him and me , with one hundred pounds reward . This was all as bad as could be ; and the little note the bouman had carried us from Mrs. Stewart was of a miserable sadness . In it she besought Alan not to let himself be captured , assuring him , if he fell in the hands of the troops , both he and James were no better than dead men . The money she had sent was all that she could beg or borrow , and she prayed heaven we could be doing with it . Lastly , she said , she enclosed us one of the bills in which we were described . This we looked upon with great curiosity and not a little fear , partly as a man may look in a mirror , partly as he might look into the barrel of an enemy 's gun to judge if it be truly aimed . Alan was advertised as `` a small , pock-marked , active man of thirty-five or thereby , dressed in a feathered hat , a French side-coat of blue with silver buttons , and lace a great deal tarnished , a red waistcoat and breeches of black , shag ; '' and I as `` a tall strong lad of about eighteen , wearing an old blue coat , very ragged , an old Highland bonnet , a long homespun waistcoat , blue breeches ; his legs bare , low-country shoes , wanting the toes ; speaks like a Lowlander , and has no beard . '' Alan was well enough pleased to see his finery so fully remembered and set down ; only when he came to the word tarnish , he looked upon his lace like one a little mortified . As for myself , I thought I cut a miserable figure in the bill ; and yet was well enough pleased too , for since I had changed these rags , the description had ceased to be a danger and become a source of safety . `` Alan , '' said I , `` you should change your clothes . '' `` Na , troth ! '' said Alan , `` I have nae others . A fine sight I would be , if I went back to France in a bonnet ! '' This put a second reflection in my mind : that if I were to separate from Alan and his tell-tale clothes I should be safe against arrest , and might go openly about my business . Nor was this all ; for suppose I was arrested when I was alone , there was little against me ; but suppose I was taken in company with the reputed murderer , my case would begin to be grave . For generosity 's sake I dare not speak my mind upon this head ; but I thought of it none the less .
I thought of it all the more , too , when the XXXXX brought out a green purse with four guineas in gold , and the best part of another in small change .
Alan Stewart William bouman days evening finery pounds right side-coat