"A mile back," cried Strange, "then he will come here yet."
"No," said Castleleathers in his methodical tone, "no, I think not, for he has boarded a ship for France."
Strange uttered an exclamation of disgust.
"I told you he would throw you over, Rob, when the time came," said he with a sour look.
Certainly it appeared like it.
But Castleleathers had more to say.
"Will you give me a hearin'," he broke in peevishly. "Muckle John would have come, but I counselled him not."
"You did?" screamed Strange. "But this is open treason, Major Fraser."
"No," said Castleleathers stoutly, "oh no, I assure you there is no more loyal servant of the King than I. But I saw no service that he could render Rob, except to endanger him as an associate of a notorious Jacobite."
"Indeed," said Strange, "but Rob is none so far removed from that himsel'. He is like enough to take the place of the hanged one above ye, Major Fraser."