I   GO   IN   QUEST   OF   MY   INHERITANCE.            293
perils without scathe. My only thought should have
been of gratitude; and yet I could not behold the place
without sorrow for others and a chill of recollected fear.
I was so thinking when, upon a sudden, Mr. Ran-
keillor cried out, clapped his hand to his pockets, and
began to laugh.
"Why," he cries, "if this be not a farcical adven-
ture! After all that I said, I have forgot my glasses!"
At that, of course, I understood the purpose of his
anecdote, and knew that if he had left his spectacles at
home, it had been done on purpose, so that he might
have the benefit of Alan's help without the awkward-
ness of recognising him. And indeed it was well
thought upon; for now (suppose things to go the very
worst) how could.Rankeillor swear to my friend's
identity, or how be made to bear damaging evidence
against myself? For all that, he had been a long while
of finding out his want, and had spoken to and recog-
nised a good few persons as we came through the town;
and I had little doubt myself that he saw reasonably
well.
As soon as we were past the Hawes (where I recog-
nised the landlord smoking his pipe in the door, and
was amazed to see him look no older) Mr. Rankeillor
changed the order of march, walking behind with
Torrance and sending me forward in the manner of a
scout. I went up the hill, whistling from time to time
my Gaelic air; and at length I had the pleasure to hear
it answered and to see Alan rise from behind a bush.