If I stayed, I could at the least of it set my friend upon his guard which might prove his mere salvation.

I had adventured other peoples' safety in a course of self-indulgence; to have endangered them again, and now on a mere design of penance, would have been scarce rational.

Accordingly, I had scarce risen from my place ere I sat down again, but already in a different frame of spirits, and equally marvelling at my past weakness and rejoicing in my present composure.
Presently after came a crackling in the thicket.

Putting my mouth near down to the ground, I whistled a note or two of Alan's air; an answer came, in the like guarded tone, and soon we had thralled together in the dark.
"Is this you at last, Davie ?" he whispered.
"Just myself," said I.
"God, man, but I've been wearying to see ye!" says he.

"I've had the longest kind of a time.