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A minute more, and the two men lay coughing and gasping on the crumbly bank, for in their utter surprizal they had let more of the nasty soft water inside than was good for them. With his first breath Sercombe began to swear. "Drop that, sir, if you please," said Rob, "or in you go again!"
Within half an hour he too set out with the messenger, accompanied by Sercombe, in grim delight at the prospect of a row. Valentine went also, willing enough to see what would happen, though with no ill will toward the chief. They were all furnished as for a day's shooting, and expected to be joined by some of the keepers on their way.
"Upon my word, Miss Annie," said Sercombe, venturing at length a little, "you were the best dancer on the floor that night!" "Oh, Mr. Sercombe! how can you say so with such dancers as the young ladies of your party!" returned Annie. "They dance well," he returned, "but not so well as you." "It all depends on the dance whether you are used to it or not." "No, by Jove!
Sercombe was by this time feeling uncomfortable, and it made him angry. He muttered something about superstition. "He was taken when a calf," the chief went on, "and given to a great-aunt of mine. But when he grew up, he took to the hills again, and was known by his silver collar till he managed to rid himself of it.
Christian and Sercombe could not but admire the straightforwardness of the brothers; their conventionality could not prevent them from feeling the dignity with which they acted on their convictions. The quixotic young fellows ought not to be cut for their behaviour! They could not court their society, but would treat them with consideration!
"You saved my life, Ian!" she said one evening for the tenth time. "It pleased God you should live," answered Ian. "Then you really think," she returned, "that God interfered to save us?" "No, I do not; I don't think he ever interferes." "Mr. Sercombe says everything goes by law, and God never interferes; my father says he does interfere sometimes."
It is wonderful how a bird of the air will carry a matter, and some vaguest impression of what had occurred alighted on the minds of the elder girls possibly from hints supposed unintelligible, passing between Mr. Sercombe and Christian: something in the social opinions of the two highlanders made those opinions differ much from the opinions prevailing in society!
Sercombe, although he had of late had no encouragement from Christina, was not therefore prepared to give her up, and came "to press the siege." He found the lady's reception of him so far from cordial, however, that he could not but suspect some new adverse influence.
"I warned you to leave that girl alone!" said the chief. "And I warn you now," rejoined Sercombe, "to leave me alone!" "I am bound to take care of her." "And I of myself." "Not at her expense!" "At yours then!" answered Sercombe, provoking an encounter, to which he was the more inclined that he saw Ian coming slowly up the ridge.
Annie came again to her chief, with the complaint that Mr. Sercombe persisted in his attentions. Alister went to see her home. They had not gone far when Sercombe overtook them, and passed. The chief told Annie to go on, and called after him, "I must have a word or two with you, Mr. Sercombe!" He turned and came up with long steps, his hands in his coat-pockets.
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