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

THE JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS. 315
William, smiling; "although^ if any man durst say it,
it should be myself. But you are to keep in view my
responsibility, and that as the voyage has now become
highly dangerous, and your business — if you ever had
any,^' says he, "brought quite to a conclusion by the
distressing family intelligence you have received, I
should be hardly justified if I even suffered you to pro-
ceed, and run the risk of some obloquy if anything
regrettable should follow.^''
My lord turned to Mountain. " What did he pre-
tend he died of ? " he asked.
" I don^t think I understand your honour," said the
trader, pausing like a man very much affected, in the
dressing of some cruel frost-bites.
For a moment my lord seemed at a full stop ; and
then, with some irritation, " I ask you wh'it he died of.
Surely that's a plain question," said he.
" Oh ! I don't know," said Mountain. " Hastie
even never knew. He seemed to sicken natural, and
just pass away."
*' There it is, you see ! " concluded my lord, turning
to Sir William.
" Your lordship is too deep for me,'' replied Sir
William.
" Why," says my lord, " this is a matter of suc-
cession J my son's title may be called in doubt ; and the
man being supposed to be dead of nobody can tell what,
a great deal of suspicion would be naturally roused."