Then he stood, with a savage smile, and
watched him scramble to his feet and scamper off into the sand-
hills.
"But it's high time I was clear of these empty bents!" said Alan;
and continued his way at top speed, and we still following, to the
backdoor of Bazin's inn.
It chanced that as we entered by the one door we came face to face
with James More entering by the other.
"Here!" said I to Catriona, "quick! upstairs with you and make your
packets; this is no fit scene for you."
In the meanwhile James and Alan had met in the midst of the long
room. She passed them close by to reach the stairs; and after she
was some way up I saw her turn and glance at them again, though
without pausing. Indeed, they were worth looking at. Alan wore as
they met one of his best appearances of courtesy and friendliness,
yet with something eminently warlike, so that James smelled danger
off the man, as folk smell fire in a house, and stood prepared for
accidents.
Time pressed. Alan's situation in that solitary place, and his
enemies about him, might have daunted Caesar.
Pages:
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455