The first was full of meal; the second of moneybags and papers tied into sheaves; in the third, with many other things (and these for the most part clothes) I found a rusty, ugly-looking Highland dirk without the scabbard.

This, then, I concealed inside my waistcoat, and turned to my uncle.
He lay as he had fallen, all huddled, with one knee up and one arm sprawling abroad; his face had a strange colour of blue, and he seemed to have ceased breathing.

Fear came on me that he was dead; then I got water and dashed it in his face; and with that he seemed to come a little to himself, working his mouth and fluttering his eyelids.

At last he looked up and saw me, and there came into his eyes a terror that was not of this world.
"Come, come," said I; "sit up." "Are ye alive ?" he sobbed.

"O man, are ye alive ?" "That am I," said I."Small thanks to you!" He had begun to seek for his breath with deep sighs.