The largest we got might have been a quarter of a pound ; but they were of good flesh and flavour , and when broiled upon the coals , lacked only a little salt to be delicious . In any by-time Alan must teach me to use my sword , for my ignorance had much distressed him ; and I think besides , as I had sometimes the upper-hand of him in the fishing , he was not sorry to turn to an exercise where he had so much the upper-hand of me . He made it somewhat more of a pain than need have been , for he stormed at me all through the lessons in a very violent manner of scolding , and would push me so close that I made sure he must run me through the body . I was often tempted to turn tail , but held my ground for all that , and got some profit of my lessons ; if it was but to stand on guard with an assured countenance , which is often all that is required . So , though I could never in the least please my master , I was not altogether displeased with myself . In the meanwhile , you are not to suppose that we neglected our chief business , which was to get away . `` It will be many a long day , '' Alan said to me on our first morning , `` before the red-coats think upon seeking Corrynakiegh ; so now we must get word sent to James , and he must find the siller for us . '' `` And how shall we send that word ? '' says I. `` We are here in a desert place , which yet we dare not leave ; and unless ye get the fowls of the air to be your messengers , I see not what we shall be able to do . '' `` Ay ? '' said Alan . `` Ye 're a man of small contrivance , David . '' Thereupon he fell in a muse , looking in the embers of the fire ; and presently , getting a piece of wood , he fashioned it in a cross , the four ends of which he blackened on the coals . Then he looked at me a little shyly . `` Could ye lend me my button ? '' says he . `` It seems a strange thing to ask a gift again , but I own I am laith to cut another . '' I gave him the button ; whereupon he strung it on a strip of his great-coat which he had used to bind the cross ; and tying in a little sprig of birch and another of fir , he looked upon his work with satisfaction . `` Now , '' said he , `` there is a little clachan '' -LRB- what is called a hamlet in the English -RRB- `` not very far from Corrynakiegh , and it has the name of Koalisnacoan . There there are living many friends of mine whom I could trust with my life , and some that I am no just so sure of .
Ye see , XXXXX , there will be money set upon our heads ; James himsel ' is to set money on them ; and as for the Campbells , they would never spare siller where there was a Stewart to be hurt .
Ay David James contrivance embers flavour great-coat laith siller upper-hand