The Desperate Journey by Kathleen Fidler Read Free Book Online Page B

Here I am!” One of the older men in the group looked up quickly.
    “The innkeeper at Altnacealgach told me you might be able to help me to get to Glasgow.”
    “But I do not take my ship to Glasgow. If it had been Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis, now.” The man broke off suddenly. “Why, there is a ship goes every week from Stornoway to Glasgow, taking herring barrels and kelp from the seashore that is used in the chemical works. Maybe, if you could get to Stornoway, you could get a passage in that boat.”
    “Could you take me to Stornoway with my wife and children?” James asked.
    “Well, that I might be doing. Tomorrow I go to Stornoway to bring over cattle from Lewis to sell at the cattle fairs at Muir of Ord and Crieff. Could ye help me to sail the boat?”
    “I could indeed,” James said at once. “I have been used to boats all my life. What would you charge, now, to take us to Stornoway?”
    The fisherman considered “If you could help me with the boat I would not be needing a man with me, and one of the cattlemenwould help me to sail the boat back. How many are there of you?”
    “Myself and my wife and two weans.”
    “Then could you be paying me six shillings, maybe?”
    “Yes, I would be willing for that,” James agreed.
    “Tomorrow then, you will be here at the quay at five o’clock in the morning so we can get the tide.”
    “I will be here, but first I must sell my horse and cart. D’ye ken anyone who would buy them from me?”
    Patrick Cameron shook his head. “No. You will have to make enquiries, man.”
    James returned to his family and told them of the arrangements he had made. “To go to Stornoway seems the best thing to do, but first we must sell our horse and cart. We cannot go till that is done.”
    “I wonder who might buy our horse and cart?” Kate said.
    “I think I know a way to find out,” Davie laughed. “Did you no’ say you could be doing with some more oatmeal, Mother?”
    “Why, yes, I did, Davie.”
    “Will you spare me some money to go buy some, then? I might hear of someone wanting a horse while I am in the shop.”
    “I’ll come with you, Davie,” Kirsty said at once.
    “Bless the bairn! He thinks of things!” Kate laughed as the two children rushed away.
    “I think I will go down to the harbour and see if I can earn a fish for our supper by helping the fishermen with their nets,” James said.
    Davie made his purchase at the small shop. It was plain that the old lady who kept the shop was full of Highland curiosity about him, and that prompted her to ask questions.
    “Strangers ye are here, surely? Is it far ye’ve come?”
    “From Culmailie.”
    “Where will that be, now?”
    “It is near Dornoch, on the other side of the country.”
    “I have heard of Dornoch. A long journey ye are from home.”
    “Aye, but we go a longer journey yet,” Davie said. “Tomorrow we are going to Stornoway in Patrick Cameron’s boat.”
    The old lady liked to hear news. Her shop was the means of passing on information in Ullapool.
    “We are going to find a new home,” Kirsty added. “Our own one was burned down.”
    The shopkeeper leaned across her counter. “How did that come about?”
    Davie told her the story. “And now we are going to Glasgow from Stornoway. My father says there will be work for us there.”
    “To Glasgow! Think of that!”
    “Aye, but we cannot go till we have sold our horse and cart,” Davie told her, warming to his task. “If you could tell us of anybody needing a horse, I’d be rare obliged to ye, mistress.”
    “Weel, now, there is the old minister, Mr McGregor. He has been complaining of the rheumatism in his feet this long time and saying he cannot visit his congregation because of it. He might buy your horse, now, if your father does not place too high a price on him, and the cart too.”
    “I will tell my father. We are very grateful to you, mistress.”
    “You can tell the minister that Mistress Robertson at the shop sent