human
I feel like a gomeral, says he,
gpt
Ay, but ye wouldnae, Alan,
human
No but what France is a good place too, he explained;
gpt
If that's all you have to complain of, Alan, it's no such great affair,
human
And it sets me ill to be complaining, whatever, said he,
gpt
And so you were unco' weary of your haystack?
human
Weary's nae word for it, said he.
gpt
I'm not just precisely a man that's easily cast down; but I do better with caller air and the lift above my head. I'm like the auld Black Douglas (wasnae't?) that likit better to hear the laverock sing than the mouse cheep. And yon place, ye see, Davie--whilk was a very suitable place to hide in, as I'm free to own--was pit mirk from dawn to gloaming. There were days (or nights, for how would I tell one from other?) that seemed to me as long as a long winter.
human
How did you know the hour to bide your tryst?
gpt
The goodman brought me my meat and a drop brandy, and a candle-dowp to eat it by, about eleeven, said he.
human
So, when I had swallowed a bit, it would be time to be getting to the wood. There I lay and wearied for ye sore, Davie, says he, laying his hand on my shoulder,
gpt
What did you do with yourself?
human
Faith, said he,
gpt
What were they about?
human
O, about the deer and the heather, says he,
gpt
So ye were frich'ened of Sym Fraser?
human
In troth was I!
gpt
So would I have been, Davie, said he.
human
And that is indeed a dreidful man. But it is only proper to give the de'il his due; and I can tell you he is a most respectable person on the field of war.
gpt
Is he so brave?
human
Brave! said he.
gpt
He is as brave as my steel sword.
human
To think of that! he cried.
gpt
I showed ye the trick in Corrynakiegh too. And three times--three times disarmed! It's a disgrace upon my character that learned ye! Here, stand up, out with your airn; ye shall walk no step beyond this place upon the road till ye can do yoursel' and me mair credit.
human
Alan, said I,
gpt
I cannae well say no to that, he admitted.
human
But three times, man! And you standing there like a straw bogle and rinning to fetch your ain sword like a doggie with a pocket-napkin! David, this man Duncansby must be something altogether by-ordinar! He maun be extraordinar skilly. If I had the time, I would gang straight back and try a turn at him mysel'. The man must be a provost.
gpt
You silly fellow, said I,
human
Na, said he,
gpt
When ye ken yourself that I am fair incompetent,
human
Well, I never heard tell the equal of it,
gpt
I promise you the one thing, Alan, said I.
human
The next time that we forgather, I'll be better learned. You shall not continue to bear the disgrace of a friend that cannot strike.
gpt
Ay, the next time! says he.
human
And when will that be, I would like to ken?
gpt
Well, Alan, I have had some thoughts of that, too, said I;
human
That's but a weary trade, Davie, says Alan,
gpt
And no doubt that would be the way to have us meet, cried I.
human
But as you'll be in King Lewie's coat, and I'll be in King Geordie's, we'll have a dainty meeting of it.
gpt
There's some sense in that,
human
An advocate, then, it'll have to be, I continued,
gpt
Well, and I would think he could! cried he.
human
Ye see, I stand well in with my colonel, Count Drummond-Melfort; and, what's mair to the purpose, I have a cousin of mine lieutenant-colonel in a regiment of the Scots-Dutch. Naething could be mair proper than what I would get a leave to see Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart of Halkett's. And Lord Melfort, who is a very scienteefic kind of a man, and writes books like Cæsar, would be doubtless very pleased to have the advantage of my observes.
gpt
Is Lord Melfort an author, then?
human
The very same, Davie, said he.
gpt
One would think a colonel would have something better to attend to. But what can I say that make songs?
human
Well, then, said I,
gpt
The best will be to write me in the care of my chieftain, said he,
human
Charles Stewart, of Ardsheil, Esquire, at the town of Melons, in the Isle of France. It might take long, or it might take short, but it would aye get to my hands at the last of it.