Going to his
mother's room, he unbuckled the fallen officer's sword, and put it
about his own waist. Then he took the man's pistol and slipped it
under his belt.
Moving to the kitchen, he filled a dipper with water from the urn, and
walked with it into the main room. By now the morning was full, and
sunlight pushed against the heavy curtains. The two men saw each other
clearly.
"I thought you might be wanting this," said the Highlander. Stephen
Purceville eyed the dipper, then the man, suspiciously.
"I'm not going to poison you, Purceville." Stephen's eyes then shifted
to the pistol. "I'm not going to shoot you, either. If you'll drink
this, and promise not to try anything foolish, I'll untie you as well.
We've got to come to an understanding."
"First tell me who you are," said the Englishman. "And what you're
doing here."
"My name doesn't matter. All you need know is that I'm a friend to
Mary, and the widow Scott. My one concern now is to get them out of
your father's prison. Here, drink." And again he held forward the
dipper.
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