Once when we came near to the house Gay Garland followed us, having been turned out on the Duchrae home park. He ran to me, as he ever did, for farings, and I fed him with crumblings out of my jacket pocket—"moolings" Maisie Lennox called them—which he ate out of my hand, a pretty thing to see in so noble a beast. Then he followed us about in our hidings, begging and sorning upon us for more. This made him not a little troublesome, till we would gladly have sent him back. But Gay Garland was a beast not easily turned.
After a while we came to the little wood of Mount Pleasant, where I saw some red rags fluttering on a bush. I was for going aside to see what they might be, but Maisie Lennox cried at me to turn back.
"There are people hereabouts that are not very chancy. My father saw the Marshalls go by this morning!"
Often and often I had heard of the tribe before, and they had a singular name for their ill-done deeds. Indeed the whole land was so overrun with beggars of the Strong Hand, and the times so unsettled, that nothing could be done to put a stop to their spoilings. For the King and his men were too busy riding down poor folk that carried Bibles and went to field-preachings, to pay attention to such as merely invaded homesteads and lifted gear.
As we set breast to the brae and came to the top of the little hill, I stumbled over something white and soft lying behind a heather bush. It was a sheep—dead, and with much of it rent and carried away. The ground about was all a-lapper with blood.
"A worrying dog has done this!" I said.
But Maisie Lennox came up, and as she caught sight of the carcase her face fell. She shook her head mighty seriously.
"Two-footed dogs," she said. "See here!" She lifted a piece of paper on which a bloody5 knife had been wiped. And she showed me, very wisely, how the best parts had been cut away by some one that had skill in dismemberment.
"'Tis Jock Marshall's band," she said; "an ill lot, but they shall not get off with this!"
And she went forward eagerly, keeping on the broad trail through the grass. We had not gone a hundred yards when we came upon another sheep in like case, and then by the ford6 of the Black Water we found yet another. I asked Maisie Lennox if we should not go home and lodge7 information.
"They'll get ower far away," was all she said.
"But you are not feared of them?" I asked, marvelling8 at the lassie. For even our Sandy that counted himself so bold, and could lift a bullock slung9 in a sheet with his teeth, would have thought twice before following up Jock Marshall and his band for the sake of an orra sheep or two.
But Maisie Lennox only turned to me in a curious way, in which there seemed mingled10 something of contempt.
"Feared!" she said. "What for should I be feared? The sheep are my faither's; but gang you back gin ye be feared."
So for very shame I answered that I was feared none—which was a great lie, for I had given a hundred pounds (Scots) to have been able to turn back with some credit. But we went along the broad trail boldly enough, and Gay Garland trotted11 loose-foot after us, sometimes stopping to crop the herbs by the way, and anon coming dancing to find us. At which I was glad, for it was at least some company besides the lassie.
Soon we came to a link of the path by the water-side, at a place that is called the Tinklers' Loup, where these sorners and limmers were mostly wont12 to congregate13. There was blue smoke rising behind the knowe, and Maisie Lennox took a straight path over the heather toward it. I wondered to see the lass. She seemed indeed not to know fear.
"They are my faither's ain sheep," she said, as though that were sufficient explanation.
So to the top we came, and looked down. There was a whole camp beneath us. Dirty low reeky14 tans were set here and there amid a swarm15 of bairns and dogs. The children were running naked as they were born, and the dogs turning themselves into hoops16 to bite their tails. About a couple of fires with pots a-swing over them, bubbling and steaming, little clouds of wild-looking folk were gathered. Some had bones in their hands which they thrust into the fire for a minute and then took out again to gnaw17 at the burned portion. Tattered18 women looked within the pots. Once a man threw a knife at a boy, which struck him on the side. The boy cried out and the blood ran down, but none took any heed19 to his complaint or of the circumstance.
For a moment Maisie Lennox stood still and looked at me. Then she went a step or two forward, and her face was white and angered. I saw she was about to speak to them, yet for my life I could not keep her from it.
"Sheep stealers!" she cried; "vagabonds, ye shall hang for this! Not for naught20 shall ye harry21 an honest man's sheep. I ken22 you, Jock Marshall and all your crew. The Shirra shall hear of this before the morrow's morn!"
The encampment stood still at gaze looking up at us, fixed23 like a show painted on a screen, while one might slowly count a score. Then Babel brake loose.
With a wild rush, man, woman, child, and dog poured towards us. Of mere4 instinct I came up abreast24 of Maisie Lennox. Behind me came Gay Garland, and snuffed over my shoulder, scenting25 with some suspicion the tinklers' garrons[2] feeding in the hollow below.
We stood so still on the knowe-top that, I think, we must have feared them a little. We were by a gap in the bushes, and the ill-doers, seeing no more of us thought, no doubt, that there must be more behind, or two bairns had never been so bold. I think, too, that the very want of arms daunted26 them, for they drew back and seemed to consult together as though uncertain what to do.
Then a great scant-bearded unkempt man with long swinging arms, whom I took to be Jock Marshall, the chief tinkler and captain of their gang, pointed27 to them to scatter28 round the little knoll29, no doubt with the purpose of making observations and cutting us off.
"Who may you be?" he cried, looking up at us.
"Right well you know," Maisie said, very loud and clear, speaking out like a minister in the tent at a field-preaching; "I am Anton Lennox of the Duchrae's daughter, whose sheep ye have boiling in your pots—and that after being well served with meal at the door, and louting low for thankfulness. And this is your thanks, ye robbers-behind-backs, gallow's thieves of Kelton Hill."
On my part I thought it was not good judgment30 so to anger the wild crew. But Maisie was not to be spoken to at such a time; so perforce I held my tongue.
"But ye shall all streek a tow for this," she said; "this day's wark shall be heard tell o' yet!"
By this time the word had been passed round the hill to Jock the tinkler that there were but two of us, and we unarmed. At which the loon31 became at once very bold.
"Have at them! Blood their throats! Bring the basin!" he cried. And the words were no vain things, for that was their well-accustomed way of killing—to let their victim's blood run into a basin, so that there might be no tell-tale stains upon the grass.
So from all sides they came speeling and clambering up the hill, loons yelling, dogs barking, till I thought my latest hour was come, and wished I had learned my Catechism better—especially the proofs. Gay Garland stood by with a raised look upon him, lifting his feet a little, as though going daintily over a bridge whose strength he was not sure of, and drawing all the while the wind upward through his nostrils32.
Then though Maisie had been very bold, I can lay claim on this occasion to having been the wiser, for I caught her by the arm, taking Gay Garland's mane firmly with the other hand the while, lest he should startle and flee.
"Up with you," I cried, bending to take her foot in my hand, and she went up like a bird.
In a moment I was beside her, riding bare-back, with Maisie clasping my waist, as indeed we had often ridden before—though never so perilously33, nor yet with such a currish retinue34 yowling at our tail.
I wore no weapon upon me—no, not so much as a bodkin. But stuck in my leather belt I had the two crooked35 sticks, which I had blackened with soot36 for pistols at our play of Troopers and Wanderers. I put my heels into Gay Garland's sides, and he started down-hill, making the turf fly from his hoofs37 as he gathered way and began to feel his legs under him.
The gang scattered39 and rounded to close us in, but when Gay Garland came to his stride, few there were who could overtake him. Only Jock Marshall himself was in time to meet us face to face, a great knife in either hand. And I think he might have done us an injury too, had it not been for the nature of the ground where we met.
It was just at the spring of a little hill and the good horse was gathering40 himself for the upstretch. I held the two curved sticks at the tinkler's head, as though they had been pistols, at which I think he was a little daunted. Jock Marshall stopped in his rush, uncertain whether to leap aside; and in that very moment, Gay Garland spread his fore-feet for the spring, throwing up his head as if to clear the way. One of his iron-shod heels took the tinkler chief fair on the chest, and the breast-bone gave inwards with a crunch41 like the breaking of many farles of cake-bread. He fell down on the moss42 like one dead, and Gay Garland went over the moor43 with the whole tribe of whooping44 savages45 after him, spurning46 their fallen chief with his hoof38 as he passed.
Well it was for us that the noble horse carried us with such ease and that his feet were so sure. For a stumble in a rabbit hole and our throats were as good as slit47.
But by the blessing48 of Providence49 and also by my good guiding of Gay Garland's mane, we passed the ford of the Black Water without hurt. Then was I very croose at the manner of our coming off, and minded not that the hardest blaff of downcome is ever gotten at the doorstep.
We were passing by the path that goes linking along the water-side, and talking to one another very cantily, when without warning a musket50 barked from the woodside, and as it were a red-hot gaud of iron ran into my thigh51 behind my knee. The world swayed round me and the green trees ran withershins about. I had fallen among the horse's feet, but that Maisie Lennox caught me, meeting Gay Garland's swerve52 with the grip of her knee—for she ever rode across and acrop like a King's horseman, till it was time for her to ride side-saddle and grow mim and prudent53.
Haply just by the turn we met my father and old Anthony Lennox coming running at the sound of the shot. But as for me I never saw or heard them, for they ran past, hot to find the man who had fired at me. While as for me I came up the loaning of the Duchrae upon Gay Garland, with my head leaning back upon the young lassie's shoulder and the red blood staining her white skirt.
And this was the beginning of my lameness54 and sometime lack of vigour—the beginning also of my life friendship with Maisie Lennox, who was to me from that day as my brother and my comrade, though she had been but a bairn's playmate aforetime.
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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2
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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3
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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4
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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5
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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7
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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8
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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9
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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10
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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11
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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12
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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13
congregate
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| v.(使)集合，聚集 | |
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14
reeky
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| adj.烟雾弥漫的 | |
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15
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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16
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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17
gnaw
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| v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨 | |
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18
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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19
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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20
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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21
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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22
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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23
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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24
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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25
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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26
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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28
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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29
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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30
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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31
loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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32
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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33
perilously
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| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
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34
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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35
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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36
soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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37
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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39
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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40
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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41
crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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42
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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43
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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44
whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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45
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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46
spurning
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的现在分词 ) | |
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47
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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48
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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49
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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50
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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51
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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52
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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53
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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54
lameness
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| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
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