Page 177 - The snake's pass

—
MY NEW PROPERTY. 165
At first my offer was a confirmation of his suspicion
of me as a spy; and, indeed, he did not burke this
aspect of the question in expressing his opinion.
" Oh, aye ! " he sneered. " Isn't it likely I'm goin' to
give up me land to ye, so that ye may hand it over to
Mr. Sutherland—an' him havin' saycrets from me all
the time—maybe knowin' where what I want to find
is hid. Didn't I know it's a thraitor he is, an' ye a
shpy."
" Dick Sutherland is no traitor and I am no spy. I
wouldn't hear such words from anyone else; but, unfor-
tunately, I know already that your ideas regarding us
both are so hopelessly wrong that it's no use trying to
alter them. I simply came here to make you an offer
to buy this piece of land. The place is a pretty one, and
I, or some friend of mine, may like some day to put
up a house here. Of course if you don't want to sell
there's an end to the matter; but do try to keep a
decent tongue in your head—if you can."
My speech had evidently some effect on him, for he
said :
" I didn't mane any offinse—an' as for sellin', I'd sell
"
anything in tbe wurrld av I got me price fur it !
" Well ! why not enter on this matter ? You're a man
of the world, and so am I. I want to buy ; I have
money and can afford to give a good price, as it is a
fancy with me. What objection have you to sell ? "
" Ye know well enough I'll not sell—not yit, at all
evints. I wouldn't part wid a perch iv this land fur