That's the auld Border law,
made at Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need
doubt it. It's as clear as the sun."
"Come away, then, lads," cried Simon, "get to your geldings, and we'll
take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us; he kens the value o' the
stock and plenishing that's been lost. Hobbie's stalls and stakes shall
be fou again or night; and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon,
we'se lay an English ane as low as Heugh-foot is--and that's fair play,
a' the warld ower."
This animating proposal was received with great applause by the younger
part of the assemblage, when a whisper ran among them, "There's Hobbie
himsell, puir fallow! we'll be guided by him."
The principal sufferer, having now reached the bottom of the hill,
pushed on through the crowd, unable, from the tumultuous state of his
feelings, to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly
hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their
sympathy in his misfortune.
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