“So?” said the gentleman in the fine coat:  “are ye of the honest party?” (meaning, Was he a Jacobite? for each side, in these sort of civil broils, takes the name of honesty for its own).

“Why, sir,” replied the captain, “I am a true-blue Protestant, and I thank God for it.” (It was the first word of any religion I had ever heard from him, but I learnt afterwards he was a great church-goer while on shore.) “But, for all that,” says he, “I can be sorry to see another man with his back to the wall.”

“Can ye so, indeed?” asked the Jacobite.  “Well, sir, to be quite plain with ye, I am one of those honest gentlemen that were in trouble about the years forty-five and six; and (to be still quite plain with ye) if I got into the hands of any of the red-coated gentry, it’s like it would go hard with me.  Now, sir, I was for France; and there was a French ship cruising here to pick me up; but she gave us the go-by in the fog—­as I wish from the heart that ye had done yoursel’!  And the best that I can say is this:  If ye can set me ashore where I was going, I have that upon me will reward you highly for your trouble.”

“In France?” says the captain.  “No, sir; that I cannot do.  But where ye come from—­we might talk of that.”

And then, unhappily, he observed me standing in my corner, and packed me off to the galley to get supper for the gentleman.  I lost no time, I promise you; and when I came back into the round-house, I found the gentleman had taken a money-belt from about his waist, and poured out a guinea or two upon the table.  The captain was looking at the guineas, and then at the belt, and then at the gentleman’s face; and I thought he seemed excited.

“Half of it,” he cried, “and I’m your man!”

The other swept back the guineas into the belt, and put it on again under his waistcoat.  “I have told ye sir” said he, “that not one doit of it belongs to me.  It belongs to my chieftain,” and here he touched his hat, “and while I would be but a silly messenger to grudge some of it that the rest might come safe, I should show myself a hound indeed if I bought my own carcase any too dear.  Thirty guineas on the sea-side, or sixty if ye set me on the Linnhe Loch.  Take it, if ye will; if not, ye can do your worst.”

“Ay,” said Hoseason.  “And if I give ye over to the soldiers?”

“Ye would make a fool’s bargain,” said the other.  “My chief, let me tell you, sir, is forfeited, like every honest man in Scotland.  His estate is in the hands of the man they call King George; and it is his officers that collect the rents, or try to collect them.  But for the honour of Scotland, the poor tenant bodies take a thought upon their chief lying in exile; and this money is a part of that very rent for which King George is looking.  Now, sir, ye seem to me to be a man that understands things:  bring this money within the reach of Government, and how much of it’ll come to you?”