So I says to him, rather surprised like, "What are ye doing up amang the craws here, without your hounds, man?
are ye seeking the fox without the dogs ?" So he said, "Na, gudeman, but I wanted to see yoursell." '"Ay," said I, "and ye'll be wanting eilding now, or something to pit ower the winter ?" '"Na, na," quo' he, "it's no that I'm seeking; but ye tak an unco concern in that Captain Brown that was staying wi' you, d'ye no ?" '"Troth do I, Gabriel," says I; "and what about him, lad ?" 'Says he, "There's mair tak an interest in him than you, and some that I am bound to obey; and it's no just on my ain will that I'm here to tell you something about him that will no please you." '"Faith, naething will please me," quo' I, "that's no pleasing to him." '"And then," quo' he, "ye'll be ill-sorted to hear that he's like to be in the prison at Portanferry, if he disna tak a' the better care o' himsell, for there's been warrants out to tak him as soon as he comes ower the water frae Allonby.

And now, gudeman, an ever ye wish him weel, ye maun ride down to Portanferry, and let nae grass grow at the nag's heels; and if ye find him in confinement, ye maun stay beside him night and day for a day or twa, for he'll want friends that hae baith heart and hand; and if ye neglect this ye'll never rue but ance, for it will be for a' your life." '"But, safe us, man," quo' I, "how did ye learn a' this?
it's an unco way between this and Portanferry." '"Never ye mind that," quo' he, "them that brought us the news rade night and day, and ye maun be aff instantly if ye wad do ony gude; and sae I have naething mair to tell ye." Sae he sat himsell doun and hirselled doun into the glen, where it wad hae been ill following him wi' the beast, and I cam back to Charlie's Hope to tell the gudewife, for I was uncertain what to do.

It wad look unco-like, I thought, just to be sent out on a hunt-the-gowk errand wi' a landlouper like that.

But, Lord! as the gudewife set up her throat about it, and said what a shame it wad be if ye was to come to ony wrang, an I could help ye; and then in cam your letter that confirmed it.

So I took to the kist, and out wi' the pickle notes in case they should be needed, and a' the bairns ran to saddle Dumple.