had a drop to warm me the day. If ye could ha' brought me a wee drappie
to the corner of the three roads--it's twa miles from here I'm
thinking--"

"It's not the miles, M'Alister," said John Broom, "but you're on outpost
duty, and--"

"And you're misdoubting what may be done to ye for bringing liquor to a
sentry on duty? Aye, aye, lad, ye do weel to be cautious," said the
Highlander, and he turned away.

But it was not the fear of consequences to himself which had made John
Broom hesitate, and he was stung by the implication.

The night was dark and very cold, and the Highlander had been pacing up
and down his post for about half-an-hour, when his quick ear caught a
faint sound of footsteps.

"Wha goes there?" said he.

"It's I, M'Alister," whispered John Broom.

"Whisht, laddie," said the sentry; "are ye there after all? Did no one
see ye?"

"Not a soul; I crept by the hedges. Here's your whiskey, M'Alister; but
oh be careful!" said the lad.

The Scotchman's eyes glittered greedily at the bottle.