“To what?” he asked.
“To the terms proposed by our gaoler.”
“I did not hear them; what are they?”
“Will you give your word not to escape?”
“Oh, willingly.”
“And not to communicate with Stirling?”
“I don’t care if I never see Stirling again.”
The king turned to the chief.
“There is little difficulty, you see,” he said, “with your fellow Highlander. I however, am supposed to be a Lowlander, and therefore cautious. I give you my word not to communicate with Stirling. As for the other proviso, I amend it as follows. I shall not leave this island without your knowledge and your company. If that is satisfactory, I pledge my faith.”
“Perfectly satisfactory,” answered the MacLeod, and with that the two young men took their departure.