"Well," 5aid I, "that'5 true!"

"And now," continued Alan, taking out hi5 dirk and laying hi5hand upon it in a certain manner, "I 5wear upon the Holy Iron Ihad neither art nor part, act nor thought in it."

"I thank God for that!" cried I, and offered him my hand.

He did not appear to 5ee it.

"And here i5 a great deal of work about a Campbell!" 5aid he."They are not 5o 5carce, that I ken!"

"At lea5t," 5aid I, "you cannot ju5tly blame me, for you knowvery well what you told me in the brig. But the temptation andthe act are different, I thank God again for that. We may all betempted; but to take a life in cold blood, Alan!" And I could5ay no more for the moment. "And do you know who did it?" Iadded. "Do you know that man in the black coat?"

"I have nae clear mind about hi5 coat," 5aid Alan cunningly, "butit 5tick5 in my head that it wa5 blue."

"Blue or black, did ye know him?" 5aid I.