Fiction > Book editions > London, 1886 - Kidnapped

110                                   KIDNAPPED.
very Christian to blow off so many words of anger.
They will do the man ye call the Fox no harm, and
yourself no good. Tell me your tale plainly out. What
did he next? "
"And that's a good observe, David," said Alan.
"Troth and indeed, they will do him no harm; the
more's the pity! And barring that about Christianity
(of which my opinion is quite otherwise, or I would be
nae Christian) I am much of your mind"
"Opinion here or opinion there," said I, "it's a
kent thing that Christianity forbids revenge."
"Ay," said he, "it's well seen it was a Campbell
taught ye! It would be a convenient world for them
and their sort, if there was no such a thing as a lad and
a gun behind a heather bush I But that's nothing to
the point. This is what he did."
"Ay," said I, "come to that."
"Well, David," said he, "since he couldnae be rid
of the loyal commons by fair means, he swore he would
be rid of them by foul. Ardshiel was to starve: that
was the thing he aimed at. And since them that fed
him in his exile wouldnae be bought out-right or
wrong, he would drive them out. Therefore he sent
for lawyers, and papers, and red-coats to stand at his
back. And the kindly folk of that country must all
pack and tramp, every father's son out of his father's
house, and out of the place where he was bred and fed,
and played when he was a callant. And who are to
succeed them? Bare-leggit beggars! King George is