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accommodations ought to fly like pipe…lights。'
Fettes pocketed the money； and applauded the sentiment to the
echo。 'You are a philosopher；' he cried。 'I was an ass till
I knew you。 You and K… between you； by the Lord Harry！ but
you'll make a man of me。'
'Of course we shall；' applauded Macfarlane。 'A man？ I tell
you； it required a man to back me up the other morning。
There are some big； brawling； forty…year…old cowards who
would have turned sick at the look of the d…d thing； but not
you … you kept your head。 I watched you。'
'Well； and why not？' Fettes thus vaunted himself。 'It was no
affair of mine。 There was nothing to gain on the one side
but disturbance； and on the other I could count on your
gratitude； don't you see？' And he slapped his pocket till
the gold pieces rang。
Macfarlane somehow felt a certain touch of alarm at these
unpleasant words。 He may have regretted that he had taught
his young companion so successfully； but he had no time to
interfere； for the other noisily continued in this boastful
strain：…
'The great thing is not to be afraid。 Now； between you and
me； I don't want to hang … that's practical； but for all
cant； Macfarlane； I was born with a contempt。 Hell； God；
Devil； right； wrong； sin； crime； and all the old gallery of
curiosities … they may frighten boys； but men of the world；
like you and me； despise them。 Here's to the memory of
Gray！'
It was by this time growing somewhat late。 The gig；
according to order； was brought round to the door with both
lamps brightly shining； and the young men had to pay their
bill and take the road。 They announced that they were bound
for Peebles； and drove in that direction till they were clear
of the last houses of the town； then； extinguishing the
lamps； returned upon their course； and followed a by…road
toward Glencorse。 There was no sound but that of their own
passage； and the incessant； strident pouring of the rain。 It
was pitch dark； here and there a white gate or a white stone
in the wall guided them for a short space across the night；
but for the most part it was at a foot pace； and almost
groping； that they picked their way through that resonant
blackness to their solemn and isolated destination。 In the
sunken woods that traverse the neighbourhood of the burying…
ground the last glimmer failed them； and it became necessary
to kindle a match and re…illumine one of the lanterns of the
gig。 Thus； under the dripping trees； and environed by huge
and moving shadows； they reached the scene of their
unhallowed labours。
They were both experienced in such affairs； and powerful with
the spade； and they had scarce been twenty minutes at their
task before they were rewarded by a dull rattle on the coffin
lid。 At the same moment Macfarlane； having hurt his hand
upon a stone； flung it carelessly above his head。 The grave；
in which they now stood almost to the shoulders； was close to
the edge of the plateau of the graveyard； and the gig lamp
had been propped； the better to illuminate their labours；
against a tree； and on the immediate verge of the steep bank
descending to the stream。 Chance had taken a sure aim with
the stone。 Then came a clang of broken glass； night fell
upon them； sounds alternately dull and ringing announced the
bounding of the lantern down the bank； and its occasional
collision with the trees。 A stone or two； which it had
dislodged in its descent； rattled behind it into the
profundities of the glen； and then silence； like night；
resumed its sway； and they might bend their hearing to its
utmost pitch； but naught was to be heard except the rain； now
marching to the wind； now steadily falling over miles of open
country。
They were so nearly at an end of their abhorred task that
they judged it wisest to complete it in the dark。 The coffin
was exhumed and broken open； the body inserted in the
dripping sack and carried between them to the gig； one
mounted to keep it in its place； and the other； taking the
horse by the mouth； groped along by wall and bush until they
reached the wider road by the Fisher's Tryst。 Here was a
faint； diffused radiancy； which they hailed like daylight； by
that they pushed the horse to a good pace and began to rattle
along merrily in the direction of the town。
They had both been wetted to the skin during their
operations； and now； as the gig jumped among the deep ruts；
the thing that stood propped between them fell now upon one
and now upon the other。 At every repetition of the horrid
contact each instinctively repelled it with the greater
haste； and the process； natural although it was； began to
tell upon the nerves of the companions。 Macfarlane made some
ill…favoured jest about the farmer's wife； but it came
hollowly from his lips； and was allowed to drop in silence。
Still their unnatural burden bumped from side to side； and
now the head would be laid； as if in confidence； upon their
shoulders； and now the drenching sack…cloth would flap icily
about their faces。 A creeping chill began to possess the
soul of Fettes。 He peered at the bundle； and it seemed
somehow larger than at first。 All over the country…side； and
from every degree of distance； the farm dogs accompanied
their passage with tragic ululations； and it grew and grew
upon his mind that some unnatural miracle had been
accomplished； that some nameless change had befallen the dead
body； and that it was in fear of their unholy burden that the
dogs were howling。
'For God's sake；' said he； making a great effort to arrive at
speech； 'for God's sake； let's have a light！'
Seemingly Macfarlane was affected in the same direction； for；
though he made no reply； he stopped the horse； passed the
reins to his companion； got down； and proceeded to kindle the
remaining lamp。 They had by that time got no farther than
the cross…road down to Auchenclinny。 The rain still poured
as though the deluge were returning； and it was no easy
matter to make a light in such a world of wet and darkness。
When at last the flickering blue flame had been transferred
to the wick and began to expand and clarify； and shed a wide
circle of misty brightness round the gig； it became possible
for the two young men to see each other and the thing they
had along with them。 The rain had moulded the rough sacking
to the outlines of the body underneath； the head was distinct
from the trunk； the shoulders plainly modelled； something at
once spectral and human riveted their eyes upon the ghastly
comrade of their drive。
For some time Macfarlane stood motionless； holding up the
lamp。 A nameless dread was swathed； like a wet sheet； about
the body； and tightened the white skin upon the face of
Fettes； a fear that was meaningless； a horror of what could
not be； kept mounting to his brain。 Another beat of the
watch； and he had spoken。 But his comrade forestalled him。
'That is not a woman；' said Macfarlane； in a hushed voice。
'It was a woman when we put her in；' whispered Fettes。
'Hold that lamp；' said the other。 'I must see her face。'
And as Fettes took the lamp his companion untied the
fastenings of the sack and drew down the cover from the head。
The light fell very clear upon the dark； well…moulded
features and smooth…shaven cheeks of a too familiar
countenance； often beheld in dreams of both of these young
men。 A wild yell rang up into the night； each leaped from
his own side into the roadway： the lamp fell； broke； and was
extinguished； and the horse； terrified by this unusual
commotion； bounded and went off toward Edinburgh at a gallop；
bearing along with it； sole occupant of the gig； the body of
the dead and long…dissected Gray。
THE STORY OF A LIE
CHAPTER I … INTRODUCES THE ADMIRAL
WHEN Dick Naseby was in Paris he made some odd acquaintances；
for he was one of those who have ears to hear； an