"Aye," mumbled Gowrie, "she brocht forth butter in a lordly dish, an gie him milk tae drink, foreby it wis a chop an' beer. Then the limmer, for want o' a hammer an' a nail, cut the auld mon's windpipe."
"Is this true?" Kyles seized Gowrie by the throat fiercely.
"Augh, augh," choked the tutor, grasping at the hands which clutched him, "ask her yersel!"
Captain Kyles loosened his grip, and walked up and down the long cabin, while Gowrie drank more liquor to restore his courage. And truly he needed all the courage he possessed, for the position he was in, terrified him not a little. Kyles was evidently a lawless man, and as no one knew that he, Gowrie, had been kidnapped, he could be put away in the manner described by the Captain, very easily. Fondling the glass, and looking as dismal as a sick monkey, Gowrie shivered and quailed at every glance of the Captain's fierce eyes. Finally after a short silence Kyles returned to the side of the table opposite to Gowrie.
"See here," said he, striking the table with his closed fist, "these notes, and that gold belong to me."
"Aye. I ken you wis expected by Sir Simon on that nicht."
"How do you know that?"
"The lawyer body told Sweetlips Kind how Sir Simon had written a letter to you on the 'Tarabacca,' the which is this boat."
"But how did Ritson know that the letter was addressed to me?"
"It's a lang story."