says Alan , `` I have been back every year since forty-six ! '' `` And what brings ye , man ? '' cried I. `` Well , ye see , I weary for my friends and country , '' said he . `` France is a braw place , nae doubt ; but I weary for the heather and the deer . And then I have bit things that I attend to . Whiles I pick up a few lads to serve the King of France : recruits , ye see ; and that 's aye a little money . But the heart of the matter is the business of my chief , Ardshiel . '' `` I thought they called your chief Appin , '' said I. `` Ay , but Ardshiel is the captain of the clan , '' said he , which scarcely cleared my mind . `` Ye see , David , he that was all his life so great a man , and come of the blood and bearing the name of kings , is now brought down to live in a French town like a poor and private person . He that had four hundred swords at his whistle , I have seen , with these eyes of mine , buying butter in the market-place , and taking it home in a kale-leaf . This is not only a pain but a disgrace to us of his family and clan . There are the bairns forby , the children and the hope of Appin , that must be learned their letters and how to hold a sword , in that far country . Now , the tenants of Appin have to pay a rent to King George ; but their hearts are staunch , they are true to their chief ; and what with love and a bit of pressure , and maybe a threat or two , the poor folk scrape up a second rent for Ardshiel . Well , David , I 'm the hand that carries it . '' And he struck the belt about his body , so that the guineas rang . `` Do they pay both ? '' cried I. `` Ay , David , both , '' says he . `` What ! two rents ? '' I repeated .
`` Ay , XXXXX , '' said he .
Appin Ardshiel Ay David France George bairns braw guineas year