ast we were
clear of the houses, and began to go along the side of the haven and
towards the "Hawes Inn" and the ferry pier, the scene of my misfortune.
I could not look upon the place without emotion, recalling how many that
had been there with me that day were now no more: Ransome taken, I could
hope, from the evil to come; Shuan passed where I dared not follow him;
and the poor souls that had gone down with the brig in her last plunge.
All these, and the brig herself, I had outlived; and come through these
hardships and fearful perils without scathe. My only thought should have
been of gratitude; and yet I could not behold the place without sorrow
for others and a chill of recollected fear.

I was so thinking when, upon a sudden, Mr. Rankeillor cried out, clapped
his hand to his pockets, and began to laugh.

"Why," he cries, "if this be not a farcical adventure! After all that I
said, I have forgot my glasses!"

At that, of course, I understood the purpose of his anecdote, and knew
that if he had left his spectacles at home, it had been done on purpose,
so that he might have the benefit of Alan's help without the awkwardness
of recognising him. And indeed it was well thought upon; for now
(suppose things to go the very worst) how could Rankeillor swear to my
friend's identity, or how be made to bear damaging evidence against
myself? For all that, he had been a long while finding out his want, and
had spoken to and recognised a good few persons as we came through the
town; and I had little doubt myself that he saw reasonably well.

As soon as we were past the "Hawes" (where I recognised the landlord
smoking his pipe in the door, and was amazed to see him look no older)
Mr. Rankeillor changed the order of march, walking behind with Torrance
and sending me forward in the manner of a scout. I went up the hill,
whistling from time to time my Gaelic air; and at length I had the
pleasure to hear it answered and to see Alan rise from behind a bush. He
was somewhat dashed in spirits, having passed a long day alone skulking
in the country, and made but a poor meal in an alehouse near Dundas. But
at the mere sight of my clothes he began to brighten up; and as soon as
I had told him in what a forward state our matters were, and the part I
looked to him to play in what remained, he sprang into a new man.

"And that is a very good notion of yours," says he; "and I dare to say
that you could lay your hands upon no better man to