Page 22 (1/2)

"To this end, sir, there is established a systeentlerants to come and settle upon a part of it under his sponsorship This policy has been blessed with success over the last thirty years; a good hlanders and families from the Isles of Scotland have been induced to come and take up residence here Why, when I arrived, I was astonished to find the banks of the Cape Fear River quite thick with MacNeills, Buchanans, Grahaain, but this time the barest nip; he was anxious to reat deal of desirable land to be settled, further inland toward the mountains It is somewhat remote, and yet, as you say, for hlands--"

"I did hear rants, sir," Ja such grants shall be white e? And this state of the Act, yes" Mr Tryon turned so that I saw hiar into a small porcelain bowl The corner of his mouth was turned up in anticipation; the face of a fisherman who feels the first twitch on his line

"The offer is one of considerable interest," Jamie said formally "I must point out, however, that I am not a Protestant, nor are most of my kins one brow

"You are neither a Jew nor a Negro I entleman to another, may I not? In all frankness, Mr Fraser, there is the law, and then there is what is done" He raised his glass with a s the hook "And I am convinced that you understand that as well as I do"

"Possibly better," Jamie murmured, with a polite smile

The Governor shot hihter He raised his brandy glass in acknowledgment, and took a sip

"We understand each other, Mr Fraser," he said, nodding with satisfaction Jamie inclined his head a fraction of an inch

"There would be no difficulties raised, then, regarding the personal qualifications of those who ht be persuaded to take up your offer?"

"None at all," said the Governor, setting down his glass with a small thump "Provided only that they are able-bodiedmore And what is not asked need not be told, eh?" One thin brow flicked up in query

Ja the deep color of the liquid

"Not all who passed through the Stuart Rising were so fortunate as myself, Your Excellency," he said "My foster son suffered the loss of his hand; another of ood character and industry I could not in conscience partake of a proposal which did not offer them some part"

The Governor dismissed this with an expansive wave of the hand

"Provided that they are able to earn their bread and will not prove a burden upon the co he had been incautious in his generosity, he sat up straight, leaving the cigar to burn, propped on the edge of the bowl

"Since you mention Jacobites--these men will be required to swear an oath of loyalty to the Crown, if they have not already done so If I ht presume to ask, sir, as you iht have narrowed only against the sting of the smoke, but I didn’t think so Neither did Governor Tryon, as only in his thirties but no ain, so that I saw only his back, but I could tell that he was gazing intently at Ja the swift movements of the trout beneath the water

"I do not seek to renity," he said quietly "Nor yet to offend present honor Still, you will understand that it is my duty to ask"

Jamie smiled, quite without humor

"And mine to answer, I expect," he said "Yes, I am a pardoned Jacobite And aye, I have sworn the oath--like the others who paid that price for their lives"

Quite abruptly, he set down his still-full glass and pushed back the heavy chair He stood and bowed to the Governor

"It grows late, Your Excellency Ito take my leave"

The Governor sat back in his chair, and lifted the cigar slowly to his lips He drew heavily on it, azed up at Ja a thin pluht, Mr Fraser Do consider my offer, will you not?"

I didn’t wait to hear the answer--I didn’t need to I ski a foot in a dark corner

I made it back to our borrowed roo anyone else, and collapsed My heart was pounding; not only from the dash up the stairs but from what I had heard

Jaht And what an offer! To regain in one swoop all that he had lost in Scotland--and more