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In the old days, those of us who were of the Tenements seldom wandered to the Croft head, and if we did go there we saw men to whom we could not always give a name. To flit from the Tanage brae to Haggart's road was to change one's friends. A kirk- wynd weaver might kill his swine and Tillyloss not know of it until boys ran westward hitting each other with the bladders.
Haggart, moreover, was an expert, pursuing a difficult art, while Simms was a bully, plundering his betters by bluff. Simms boasted no quality which might be set off against the accurate delicacy of Haggart's hand. The Englishman grew rich upon a rolling eye and a rusty pistol. He put on his 'fiercest manner, and believed that the world would deny him nothing.
The Scot, rejoicing in his exquisite skill, went to work without fuss or bluster, and added the joy of artistic pride to his delight in plunder. Though Simm's manner seems the more chivalrous, it required not one tithe of the courage which was Haggart's necessity. On horseback, with the semblance of a fire-arm, a man may easily challenge a coachful of women.
'I got the first dive at his keek-cloy, he writes in his simple, heroic style, 'and was so eager on my prey, that I pulled out the pocket along with the money, and nearly upset the gentleman. A steady brain saved him from the consequence of an o'erbuoyant enthusiasm. The notes were passed to Barney in a flash, and when the sportsman turned upon his assailant, Haggart's hands were empty.
McQueen's sharp eyes, however, picked out not only the stranger but Tommy crouching behind Haggart's stone, and him did the doctor's famous crook staff catch in the neck and whisk across the dyke. "What man is that you're watching, you mysterious loon?" McQueen demanded, curiously; but of course Tommy would not divulge so big a secret.
Something in the boy's piteous eagerness had attracted Haggart's attention, and he turned and looked at him sharply. His eyes were wide open and had a terrified look, and his thin lips were trembling, his small childish hand was fidgeting with the buttons of his coat.
You said, Gart, yes you said that their faces were entirely different from the faces of our people, and that is true. Oh, how true it is! Our people have handsome faces, too don't think our fishermen are ugly, but they haven't these deep, terrible sears. I like them very much, I assure you, Gart. I suppose you are a friend of Haggart's you have such stern, fine eyes? But you are silent?
Kitty is sure to send the tinos, dear old girl. Father takes care to keep her well supplied." "There, I hear Dan's horn; he is coming through the Gap," cried Pat, his face lighting up. "Stay there, Laurie, and I'll run to meet him. He'll just be at the other side of Haggart's Glen when I get up." The younger boy put wings to his feet, and the next moment was out of sight.
"Wasn't there a fellow called something Curtius, who saved a city once?" said a first-form boy, in a whisper. "Yes; he leaped into a gulf." "Well, that's what Haggart's done," said the boy. "Rot!" said the other boy, still whispering. Nothing seemed very clear to Haggart's mind as he slowly undressed in the cold, unused room. His brain was worried and confused.
Haggart's face was very anxious as he, too, leant forth to see the fourth-form fellows, but all he could catch a sight of was a smooth, fair head that had drooped very low. The Doctor, with a disappointed face, turned to the senior class. "It seems hardly necessary to go through the form," he said. "I think I can count on my senior boys. You, Crawley? You, Brown? You, Haggart?"
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