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"Oh, aye, it was I’ve not done anything like that in years" Jarin "It real and hisinto the barn without a sound--Christ, I had to stop myself in time before I took the cow Or I would have, if they’d had one"

I sniffed, and laughed indulgently

"You are the most complete bandit, Jamie," I said

"Bandit?" he said, mildly affronted "I’m a verra honest man, Sassenach Or at least I alance behind, to be sure ere not overheard

"Oh, you’re entirely honest," I assured hiood, in fact You’re just not very law-abiding"

This observation appeared to disconcert hiruff sound in his throat that reehed, then reined in, and standing up in his stirrups, waved his hat to Roger, as soer waved back, and turned his horse’s nose in our direction

I pulled my horse in beside Jaer take theback in his saddle, "while I go and call upon the Beardsleys alone Will ye coer?"

"Oh, I’ll come with you," I said, without hesitation "I want to see what these Beardsleys are like"

He s his hat He wore his hair loose to cover his neck and ears against the cold, and it shone like ht Mind your face, though," he said, in half-ooseberry, and theyservant lad"

"Mind your own face," I said, rather crossly "Gooseberry, indeed Did Josiah say that he and his brother were badly treated?" I wondered whether there had beenthan the cheese incident

Jamie shook his head

"I didna ask, and he didna say--but ask yourself, Sassenach: would ye leave a decent hoo and live in the woods alone, to rubs and crickets ’til ye learned to hunt ed his horse intothat conjecture He returned a few moments later, and I turned my mount in beside his were bad enough here as to force hilanced at rimly

"Keziah’s deaf, Sassenach"

Not born deaf, fro as the result of an injury, occurring at the age of five or so Keziah could therefore speak, but not hear any but the loudest of noises; and unable to perceive the sound of rustling leaves or shuffling feet, could neither hunt nor avoid pursuit

"He says Keziah understands him, and doubtless he does When we crept into the barn, I kept watch belohile the lad went up the ladder to the loft I didna hear a sound, but within a minute, both lads were down on the floor besidethe sleep froave me a turn to see the two of the away his breeches," I said, touching on one thing that had been puzzling hed

"I asked Seeht before, left them in the hay, and one o’ the barn cats had kittens on theh with an uneasypurple in the firelight

"Kind lad And his shoes?"

"He hadn’t any"

By noe had reached the botto in a slow gyre round Jamie as directions were decided, rendezvous appointed, farewells taken Then Roger--with only slight evidence of self-consciousness--whistled through his teeth and waved his hat in the air in summons I watched him ride away, and noticed hiht ahead

"He’s no sure they’ll really follow hi He shook his head critically, then shrugged, dise," I said, thinking of the night before