PROOF AGAINST BRIBES!
"A man's a man for a' that."
It was now that Donald was to prove that integrity which for ages hasbeen so noble an attribute of the Highlander.
To many of the villagers $3,000 would have been a fortune. But if Donaldspent more of his time in the woods now than formerly, it was not thathe doubted the honor of the poorest peasant in the county. He well knewthat there was not a man or woman who would have accepted the reward ifit were to save them from starvation. He had no fear on that score. Hebecame more reserved in his movements, because his friends informedhim that since the offer of the reward, several suspicious-lookingindividuals from Montreal, pretending to be commercial travellers, hadbeen seen loitering in the village. He therefore drew farther into thewoods, and avoided his father's house, either going to the houses ofhis friends for food, or having it brought to him. If danger seemedpressing, he passed the night in the woods, his rifle close to his side;but ordinarily, during this time he slept at the homes of his friends.The arrival of every stranger was known to him. Faithful friends noteddown their description, and these notes either reached him at a givenrendezvous in the woods, or at the houses where he passed the night.