Would you set your trust on him?"

"He didnae behave very well to you and Alan," said Mr. Stewart;
"but my mind of the man in general is rather otherwise. If he had
taken Alan on board his ship on an agreement, it's my notion he
would have proved a just dealer. How say ye, Rob?"

"No more honest skipper in the trade than Eli," said the clerk. "I
would lippen to {5} Eli's word--ay, if it was the Chevalier, or
Appin himsel'," he added.

"And it was him that brought the doctor, wasnae't?" asked the
master.

"He was the very man," said the clerk.

"And I think he took the doctor back?" says Stewart.

"Ay, with his sporran full!" cried Robin. "And Eli kent of that!"
{6}

"Well, it seems it's hard to ken folk rightly," said I.

"That was just what I forgot when ye came in, Mr. Balfour!" says
the Writer.



CHAPTER III--I GO TO PILRIG