Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (1).pdf/14



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as he ran, to them to ſtop; but they would until he began to ſtrike at them, and they at him, he being in a great paſſion, as the corn was not fully ripe; at last, by force of argument, and other people coming up to his aſſiſtance, the poor ſhearers were convinced they had got the bite, which caused them to go away lamenting their misfortune. In two or three days thereafter, as Tom was going down the Canongate, he meets one of his ſhearers, who knew him, and kept fast by him, demanding his money, and ſatisfaction for the reſt: " Whiſht, whiſht,' says Tom, "and you'll get yours and ſomething else beſide:-- So Tom takes him into the jail, and calls for a bottle of ale and a dram; then takes the jailor aſide, as if he had been going to borrow the money from him, and says to the jailor, "This man hear is a great thief, 'I and two others have been in ſearch of him theſe three days, and the other two men have the warrant with them, ſo if you keep this rogue here till T run and bring them, you ſhall have a guinea in reward" Yes, "ſaid she jailor, go, and I'll fix the rogue for you." So Tom got clear off, leaving the poor innocent fellow and the jailor ſtruggling together, and then ſets off for England directly.