Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

ISO THE MASTER OF BALLANTIUE.
(lisag-recaLly to liear voices a little way in fronts and to
recog-nise the tones of my lord and Mr. Alexander. I
puslied ahead^ and came presently into tlieir view. They
stood togetlier in the open space where the duel was,
my lord with his hand on his son^s shoulder, and speak-
ing with some gravity. At least, as he raised his head
upon my coming, I thought I could perceive his
countenance to lighten.
" Ah ! '' says he, " here conies the good j\Iackellar. I
have just been telling Sandie the story of this place,
and how there was a man whom the devil tried to kill,
and how near he came to kill the devil instead."
I had thought it strange enough he should luring
the child into that scene; that he should actually be dis-
coursing of his act, passed measure. But the worst was
yet to come ; for he added, turning to his son — " You
can ask Mackellarj he was here and saw it."
"Is it true, Mr. Maekellar?" asked the child.
"And did you really see the devil?"
"I have not heard the tale," I replied; '^and I am in
a press of business." So far I said a little sourly, fencing
with the embarrassment of the position ; and suddenly
the bitterness of the past, and the terror of that scene by
candle-light, rushed in upon my mind. I bethought me
that, for a difference of a second^s quickness in parade,
the child before me might have never seen the day ; and
the emotion that always fluttered round my heart in
that dark shrubbery burst forth in words. " Eut so