It will be but a muckle through-stane laid doun to kiver the gowd--tak the pick till't, and pit mair strength, man--ae gude down-right devvel will split it, I'se warrant ye--Ay, that will do Od, he comes on wi' Wallace's straiks!" In fact, the adept, moved by Edie's exhortations, fetched two or three desperate blows, and succeeded in breaking, not indeed that against which he struck, which, as he had already conjectured, was the solid rock, but the implement which he wielded, jarring at the same time his arms up to the shoulder-blades.
"Hurra, boys!--there goes Ringan's pick-axe!" cried Edie "it's a shame o' the Fairport folk to sell siccan frail gear.

Try the shule--at it again, Mr.Dusterdeevil." The adept, without reply, scrambled out of the pit, which was now about six feet deep, and addressed his associate in a voice that trembled with anger.

"Does you know, Mr.Edies Ochiltrees, who it is you put off your gibes and your jests upon ?" "Brawly, Mr.Dusterdeevil--brawly do I ken ye, and has done mony a day; but there's nae jesting in the case, for I am wearying to see ae our treasures; we should hae had baith ends o' the pockmanky filled by this time--I hope it's bowk eneugh to haud a' the gear ?" "Look you, you base old person," said the incensed philosopher, "if you do put another jest upon me, I will cleave your skull-piece with this shovels!" "And whare wad my hands and my pike-staff be a' the time ?" replied Edie, in a tone that indicated no apprehension.

"Hout, tout, Maister Dusterdeevil, I haena lived sae lang in the warld neither, to be shuled out o't that gate.

What ails ye to be cankered, man, wi' your friends?
I'll wager I'll find out the treasure in a minute;" and he jumped into the pit, and took up the spade.
"I do swear to you," said the adept, whose suspicions were now fully awake, "that if you have played me one big trick, I will give you one big beating, Mr.Edies." "Hear till him now!" said Ochiltree, "he kens how to gar folk find out the gear--Od, I'm thinking he's been drilled that way himsell some day." At this insinuation, which alluded obviously to the former scene betwixt himself and Sir Arthur, the philosopher lost the slender remnant of patience he had left, and being of violent passions, heaved up the truncheon of the broken mattock to discharge it upon the old man's head.
The blow would in all probability have been fatal, had not he at whom it was aimed exclaimed in a stern and firm voice, "Shame to ye, man!--do ye think Heaven or earth will suffer ye to murder an auld man that might be your father ?--Look behind ye, man!" Dousterswivel turned instinctively, and beheld, to his utter astonishment, a tall dark figure standing close behind him.