[Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott]@TWC D-Link book
Rob Roy

CHAPTER SIXTH
8/11

But ye maunna expect me to gang ower the Highland line--I'll gae beyond the line at no rate.

Ye maun meet me about Bucklivie or the Clachan of Aberfoil,--and dinna forget the needful." "Nae fear--nae fear," said Campbell; "I'll be as true as the steel blade that never failed its master.

But I must be budging, cousin, for the air o' Glasgow tolbooth is no that ower salutary to a Highlander's constitution." "Troth," replied the merchant, "and if my duty were to be dune, ye couldna change your atmosphere, as the minister ca's it, this ae wee while .-- Ochon, that I sud ever be concerned in aiding and abetting an escape frae justice! it will be a shame and disgrace to me and mine, and my very father's memory, for ever." "Hout tout, man! let that flee stick in the wa'," answered his kinsman; "when the dirt's dry it will rub out--Your father, honest man, could look ower a friend's fault as weel as anither." "Ye may be right, Robin," replied the Bailie, after a moment's reflection; "he was a considerate man the deacon; he ken'd we had a' our frailties, and he lo'ed his friends--Ye'll no hae forgotten him, Robin ?" This question he put in a softened tone, conveying as much at least of the ludicrous as the pathetic.
"Forgotten him!" replied his kinsman--"what suld ail me to forget him ?--a wapping weaver he was, and wrought my first pair o' hose .-- But come awa', kinsman, Come fill up my cap, come fill up my cann, Come saddle my horses, and call up my man; Come open your gates, and let me gae free, I daurna stay langer in bonny Dundee." "Whisht, sir!" said the magistrate, in an authoritative tone--"lilting and singing sae near the latter end o' the Sabbath! This house may hear ye sing anither tune yet--Aweel, we hae a' backslidings to answer for--Stanchells, open the door." The jailor obeyed, and we all sallied forth.

Stanchells looked with some surprise at the two strangers, wondering, doubtless, how they came into these premises without his knowledge; but Mr.Jarvie's "Friends o' mine, Stanchells--friends o' mine," silenced all disposition to inquiries.

We now descended into the lower vestibule, and hallooed more than once for Dougal, to which summons no answer was returned; when Campbell observed with a sardonic smile, "That if Dougal was the lad he kent him, he would scarce wait to get thanks for his ain share of the night's wark, but was in all probability on the full trot to the pass of Ballamaha"-- "And left us--and, abune a', me, mysell, locked up in the tolbooth a' night!" exclaimed the Bailie, in ire and perturbation.


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