"No kind of a hurry about the man?" he asked. "Never a sign of it," said I. "Nhm!" said Alan, "it looks queer. We saw nothing of them this morning on the Whins; he's passed us by, he doesnae seem to be looking, and yet here he is on our road! Dod, Davie, I begin to take a notion. I think it's no you they're seeking, I think it's me; and I think they ken fine where they're gaun." "They ken?" I asked. "I think Andie Scougal's sold me--him or his mate wha kent some part of the affair--or else Chairlie's clerk callant, which would be a pity too," says Alan; "and if you askit me for just my inward private conviction, I think there'll be heads cracked on Gillane sands." "Alan," I cried, "if you're at all right there'll be folk there and to spare. It'll be small service to crack heads." "It would aye be a satisfaction though," says Alan. "But bide a bit, bide a bit; I'm thinking--and thanks to this bonny westland wind, I believe I've still a chance of it. It's this way, Davie. I'm no trysted with this man Scougal till the gloaming comes. _But_," says he, "_if I can get a bit of a wind out of the west I'll be there long or that_," he says, "_and lie-to for ye behind the Isle of Fidra_. Now if your gentry kens the place, they ken the time forbye. Do ye see me coming, Davie? Thanks to Johnnie Cope and other red-coat gomerals, I should ken this country like the back of my hand; and if ye're ready for another bit run with Alan Breck, we'll can cast back inshore, and come down to the seaside again by Dirleton. If the ship's there, we'll try and get on board of her. If she's no there, I'll just have to get back to my weary haystack. But either way of it, I think we will leave your gentry whistling on their thumbs." "I believe there's some chance in it," said I. "Have on with ye, Alan!" * * * * * CHAPTER XIII GILLANE SANDS I did not profit by Alan's pilotage as he had done by his marchings under General Cope; for I can scarce tell what way we went. It is my excuse that we travelled exceeding fast. Some part we ran, some trotted, and the rest walked at a vengeance of a pace. Twice, while we were at top speed, we ran against country-folk; but though we plumped into the first from round a corner, Alan was as ready as a loaded musket. "Hae ye seen my horse?" he gasped. "Na, man, I haenae seen nae horse the day," replied the countryman. And Alan spared the time to explain to him that we were travelling "ride and tie"; that our charger had escaped, and it was feared he had gone home to Linton. Not only that, but he expended some breath (of which he had not very much left) to curse his own misfortune and my stupidity which was said to be its cause.