OUR ADVENTURE ON THE ALPHEN ROAD
We rode in silence for maybe half a mile, while I turned over the events of the evening in my mind and tried to find some way out of the difficulties in which, by my own folly, I found myself placed. Nicol looked steadfastly before him and said never a word. By and by I found the desire for some one to speak with so overpowering that I up and asked him if he had heard aught of the events of the evening.
"Ay, sir," said he, "I heard ye had some kind o' stramash, but that was a'. I trust ye're weel oot o't."
"Have you heard of my cousin Gilbert?" I asked.
"The wastland lad wha used to come aboot the Barns? Oh, aye! I've heard o' him."
"I flung a glass at his face to-night," said I.
"I hope, sir, that he flung anither at yoursel'?" he asked anxiously.
"No. He swallowed the insult and left soon after. He is not the man to let me off so easily."
"Whew," said Nicol, "but that's bad. Wad ye mind, Laird, if I rode on afore ye?"
"Why?" I asked.