Chapter Twenty Six of "Kidnapped"

It is late August when they leave, and Alan and Davie. They plan to head south, cross the Forth River into Stirling, and then to Edinburgh from there. They go to the bridge, but there is a guard. So instead of crossing they sneak down the river to the small town of Limekilns. There, they enter an inn, where Davie pretends to be deathly sick. Alan pretends they are disinherited gentry, and a young woman takes pity on them. She even borrows a neighbor's boat and rows them across herself. Davie is amazed by the woman's kindness.