“You will not require to stay behind the rest, in order to do what I require of you,” said Donald of Inverawe.
“I could not if I would,” replied George Campbell.
“Do you go in the same ship with my father?” demanded young Inverawe.
“I wish I did,” replied George Campbell; “but I regret to say that I go in a different vessel.”
“So much the better for my purpose,” replied young Inverawe eagerly. “You will be the better able to take me with you without my being discovered.”
“Take you with me!” cried George Campbell, in great astonishment. “What in the name of wonder would you propose?”
“That which is perfectly reasonable,” replied young Inverawe. “Do you think that I could sit quietly at home, whilst my father, and you, and so many of my friends, are earning honour and glory abroad? Ask yourself, George, what would you have done under my circumstances?”
“I have never thought as to how I might have acted, had I been so placed,” replied George Campbell, much perplexed. “But I have no relish for having any hand in aiding you to oppose the will of your father.”
“No matter now, George, whether you have any relish for it or not,” replied young Inverawe, smiling. “You have given me your promise that you will aid me, and you must now make the best of it. So come away. Let me see how you can best manage to get me aboard. I must not be seen by my father till we land in America, and then I shall enter as a volunteer.”
“What will your father say then?” demanded George Campbell.