Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1893 - David Balfour

DAVID BALFOUR 29
ever after. But wlieii I looked this argument full in the
face I could see nothing to be ashamed of. As for the
rest, "Here are the two roads," I thought, "and both
go to the same place. It's unjust that James should
hang if I can save him ; and it would be ridiculous in me
to have talked so much and then do nothing. It's lucky
for James of the Glens that I have boasted beforehand ;
and none so unlucky for myself, because now I'm com-
mitted to do right. I have the name of a gentleman
and the means of one ; it would be a poor discovery that
I was wanting in the essence." And then I thought
this was a Pagan spirit, and said a prayer in to myself,
asking for what courage I might lack, and that I might
go straight to my duty like a soldier to battle, and come
off again scatheless as so many do.
This train of reasoning brought me to a more resolved
complexion ; though it was far from closing up my sense
of the dangers that surrounded me, nor of how very apt
I was (if I went on) to stumble on the ladder of the gal-
lows. It was a plain, fair morning, but the wind in the
east. The little chill of it sang in my blood, and gave
me a feeling of the autumn, and the dead leaves, and
dead folks' bodies in their graves. It seemed the devil
was in it, if I was to die in that tide of my fortunes and
for other folks' affairs. On the top of the Calton Hill,
though it was not the customary time of year for that
diversion, some children were crying and running with
their kites. These toys appeared very plain against the