"I'll gar daylight shine through ye, if ye offer to steer him!" said the
stout Borderer; "stand back, or I'll strike ye through! Naebody shall
lay a finger on Elshie; he's a canny neighbourly man, aye ready to make
a friend help; and, though ye may think him a lamiter, yet, grippie for
grippie, friend, I'll wad a wether he'll make the bluid spin frae under
your nails. He's a teugh carle Elshie! he grips like a smith's vice."
"What has brought you here, Elliot?" said Mareschal; "who called on you
for interference?"
"Troth, Mareschal-Wells," answered Hobbie, "I am just come here, wi'
twenty or thretty mair o' us, in my ain name and the King's--or Queen's,
ca' they her? and Canny Elshie's into the bargain, to keep the peace,
and pay back some ill usage Ellieslaw has gien me. A bonny breakfast the
loons gae me the ither morning, and him at the bottom on't; and trow
ye I wasna ready to supper him up?--Ye needna lay your hands on your
swords, gentlemen, the house is ours wi' little din; for the doors were
open, and there had been ower muckle punch amang your folk; we took
their swords and pistols as easily as ye wad shiel pea-cods.
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