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was haudin' Black Geordie roon' the neuk。 It canna be far frae Mr。
Lindsay's 'at you an' Mr。 Ericson used to gang till。'
'Come an' lat me see 't direckly；' cried Robert； starting up； with a
terrible foreboding at his heart。
They were in the street in a moment。 Shargar led the way by a
country lane to the top of the hill on the right； and then turning
to the left； brought him to some houses standing well apart from
each other。 It was a region unknown to Robert。 They were the backs
of the houses of which Mr。 Lindsay's was one。
'This is the hoose；' said Shargar。
Robert rushed into action。 He knocked at the door。 Mr。 Lindsay's
Jenny opened it。
'Is yer mistress in； Jenny？' he asked at once。
'Na。 Ay。 The maister's gane to Bors Castle。'
'It's Miss Lindsay I want to see。'
'She's up in her ain room wi' a sair heid。'
Robert looked her hard in the face； and knew she was lying。
'I want to see her verra partic'lar；' he said。
'Weel； ye canna see her；' returned Jenny angrily。 'I'll tell her
onything ye like。'
Concluding that little was to be gained by longer parley； but quite
uncertain whether Mysie was in the house or not； Robert turned to
Shargar； took him by the arm； and walked away in silence。 When they
were beyond earshot of Jenny； who stood looking after them；
'Ye're sure that's the hoose； Shargar？' said Robert quietly。
'As sure's deith； and maybe surer； for I saw him come oot wi' my ain
een。'
'Weel； Shargar； it's grown something awfu' noo。 It's Miss Lindsay。
Was there iver sic a villain as that Lord Rothiethat brither o'
yours！'
'I disoun 'im frae this verra 'oor；' said Shargar solemnly。
'Something maun be dune。 We'll awa' to the quay； an' see what'll
turn up。 I wonner hoo's the tide。'
'The tide's risin'。 They'll never try to win oot till it's slack
watterfurbye 'at the Amphitrite； for as braid 's she is； and her
bows modelled efter the cheeks o' a resurrection cherub upo' a
gravestane； draws a heap o' watter： an' the bar they say 's waur to
win ower nor usual： it's been gatherin' again。'
As they spoke； the boys were making for the new town； eagerly。 Just
opposite where the Amphitrite lay was a public…house： into that they
made up their minds to go； and there to write a letter； which they
would give to Miss Lindsay if they could； or； if not； leave with
Skipper Hoornbeek。 Before they reached the river； a thick rain of
minute drops began to fall； rendering the night still darker； so
that they could scarcely see the vessels from the pavement on the
other side of the quay； along which they were hurrying； to avoid the
cables； rings； and stone posts that made its margin dangerous in the
dim light。 When they came to The Smack Inn they crossed right over
to reach the Amphitrite。 A growing fear kept them silent as they
approached her berth。 It was empty。 They turned and stared at each
other in dismay。
One of those amphibious animals that loiter about the borders of the
water was seated on a stone smoking； probably fortified against the
rain by the whisky inside him。
'Whaur's the Amphitrite； Alan？' asked Shargar； for Robert was dumb
with disappointment and rage。
'Half doon to Stanehive by this time； I'm thinkin'；' answered Alan。
'For a brewin' tub like her； she fummles awa nae ill wi' a licht
win' astarn o' her。 But I'm doobtin' afore she win across the
herrin…pot her fine passengers 'll win at the boddom o' their
stamacks。 It's like to blaw a bonnetfu'； and she rows awfu' in ony
win'。 I dinna think she cud capsize； but for wamlin' she's waur nor
a bairn with the grips。'
In absolute helplessness； the boys had let him talk on： there was
nothing more to be done； and Alan was in a talkative mood。
'Fegs！ gin 't come on to blaw；' he resumed； 'I wadna wonner gin they
got the skipper to set them ashore at Stanehive。 I heard auld Horny
say something aboot lyin' to there for a bit； to tak a keg or
something aboord。'
The boys looked at each other； bade Alan good…night； and walked
away。
'Hoo far is 't to Stonehaven； Shargar？' said Robert。
'I dinna richtly ken。 Maybe frae twal to fifteen mile。'
Robert stood still。 Shargar saw his face pale as death； and
contorted with the effort to control his feelings。
'Shargar；' he said； 'what am I to do？ I vowed to Mr。 Ericson that；
gin he deid； I wad luik efter that bonny lassie。 An' noo whan he's
lyin' a' but deid； I hae latten her slip throu' my fingers wi' clean
carelessness。 What am I to do？ Gin I cud only win to Stonehaven
afore the Amphitrite！ I cud gang aboord wi' the keg； and gin I cud
do naething mair； I wad hae tried to do my best。 Gin I do naething；
my hert 'll brak wi' the weicht o' my shame。'
Shargar burst into a roar of laughter。 Robert was on the point of
knocking him down； but took him by the throat as a milder
proceeding； and shook him。
'Robert！ Robert！' gurgled Shargar； as soon as his choking had
overcome his merriment； 'ye're an awfu' Hielan'man。 Hearken to me。
I beggg yer pardon。 What I was thinkin' o' was'
Robert relaxed his hold。 But Shargar； notwithstanding the lesson
Robert had given him； could hardly speak yet for the enjoyment of
his own device。
'Gin we could only get rid o' Jock Mitchell！' he crowed； and burst
out again。
'He's wi' a wuman i' the Gallowgate；' said Robert。
'Losh； man！' exclaimed Shargar； and started off at full speed。
He was no match for his companion； however。
'Whaur the deevil are ye rinnin' till； ye wirrycow （scarecrow）？'
panted Robert； as he laid hold of his collar。
'Lat me gang； Robert；' gasped Shargar。 'Losh； man！ ye'll be on Black
Geordie in anither ten meenits； an' me ahin' ye upo' Reid Rorie。
An' faith gin we binna at Stanehive afore the Dutchman wi' 's
boddom foremost； it'll be the faut o' the horse and no o' the men。'
Robert's heart gave a bound of hope。
'Hoo 'ill ye get them； Shargar？' he asked eagerly。
'Steal them；' answered Shargar； struggling to get away from the
grasp still upon his collar。
'We micht be hanged for that。'
'Weel； Robert； I'll tak a' the wyte o' 't。 Gin it hadna been for
you； I micht ha' been hangt by this time for ill doin'： for your
sake I'll be hangt for weel doin'； an' welcome。 Come awa'。 To
steal a mairch upo' brither Sandy wi' aucht （eight） horse…huves o'
's ain！ Ha！ ha！ ha！'
They sped along； now running themselves out of breath； now walking
themselves into it again； until they reached a retired hostelry
between the two towns。 Warning Robert not to show himself； Shargar
disappeared round the corner of the house。
Robert grew weary； and then anxious。 At length Shargar's face came
through the darkness。
'Robert；' he whispered； 'gie 's yer bonnet。 I'll be wi' ye in a
moment noo。'
Robert obeyed； too anxious to question him。 In about three minutes
more Shargar reappeare