Violet Jacob > Flemington

THE MUIR OF PERT 311
Cause. That was what I wished him to believe
—had almost told him.”
Callander listened, the lines of his long face set.
“ I had watched him and hunted him,” con¬
tinued Archie, “ and my information against him
was already in the beggar’s hands, on its way to
its mark. I could not bring myself to do more
against him then. What I did afterwards was
done without mention of his name. You see,
Callander, I have been true to nobody.”
He paused, waiting for comment, but the other
made none.
“ After that I went to Edinburgh,” he continued,
“ and he joined the Prince. Then I went north
with Cumberland. I was freed from my difficulty
until they sent me here to take him. The Duke
gave me my orders himself, and I had to go.
That ride with you was hell, Callandar, and when
we met the beggar to-day I had to make my
choice. That was the turning-point for me. I
could not go on.”
“ He said it was not your wound that turned
you aside.”
“ He was a shrewd rascal,” said Flemington.
“ I wish I could tell how he knew so much
about me.”
“ It was your own tongue : once you spent the
night in a barn together when you were light¬
headed from a blow, and you spoke all night of
Logie. You said enough to put him on your
track. That is what he told me as we went up
Huntly Hill.”