"Saw ever mortal the like o' that!" said Elliot; "but my case is
desperate, sae, if he were Beelzebub himsell, I'se venture down the brae
on him."
Yet, notwithstanding his assumed courage, he slackened his pace, when,
nearly upon the very spot where he had last seen the tall figure,
he discerned, as if lurking among the long heather, a small black
rough-looking object, like a terrier dog.
"He has nae dog that ever I heard of," said Hobbie, "but mony a deil
about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It keeps its
grund, be what it like--I'm judging it's a badger; but whae kens what
shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it will maybe start up
like a lion or a crocodile when I come nearer. I'se e'en drive a stage
at it, for if it change its shape when I'm ower near, Tarras will never
stand it; and it will be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight
wi' baith at ance."
He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which continued
motionless. "It's nae living thing, after a'," said Hobbie, approaching,
"but the very bag o' siller he flung out o' the window yesterday! and
that other queer lang creature has just brought it sae muckle farther
on the way to me.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183