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

306 THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE.
which he had cunningly addressed himself. Hastie ex-
amined him ; and being flattered, ignorant, and highly
suspicious, knew not in the least whether the man was
sick or malingering. In this state he went forth again
to his companions; and (as the thing .which would give
himself most consequence either way) announced that
the patient was in a fair way to die.
" For all that," he added with an oath, " and if he
bursts by the wayside, he must bring us this morning
to the treasure."
But there were several in the camp (Mountain among
the number) whom this brutality revolted. They would
have seen the Master pistolled, or pistolled him them-
selves, without the smallest sentiment of pity ; but they
seemed to have been touched by his gallant fight and
unequivocal defeat the night before ; perhaps, too, they
were even already beginning to oppose themselves to
their new leader : at least, they now declared that (if
the man was sick) he should have a day's rest in spite
of Hastie's teeth.
The next morning he was manifestly worse, and
Hastie himself began to display something of humane
concern, so easily does even the pretence of doctoring
awaken sympathy. The third the master called Moun-
tain and Hastie to the tent, announced himself to be
dying, gave them full particulars as to the position of
the cache, and begged them to set out incontinently on
the quest, so that they might see if he deceived them,