Page:Exploits of wise Willie and witty Eppie, the ale-wife, of Buckhaven (2).pdf/8



8                    the two wives threw their fish away, and run home like mad persons, crying they had seen the de'il, ay, the very horned de'il, and that he spoke to them, but they did na ken what he said, for it was worse than a highlandman's; the whole town was in an uproar; some would go                    with picks and spades, and hagg him in                     pieces; others wad go and catch him in                     a strong net, and then they could either hang or drown them. Na, na, co' Wise Willie, we mauna cast out wi' him at the first, as he's gotten the twa bur- dens o' fish, he'll e'en gang his wa' an' no fash us nae mair; he is o'er souple to                    be catch'd in a net; a' your pith will neither hang him nor drown him, and the kintry he comes frae, is a' het coals, he'd never burn: We'll go to him in a                    civil manner, and see what he wants. Get out Witty Eppie, the ale-wife, and Lingle-tail'd Nancy, wi' the Bible and Psalm-Book. So aff they came in a crowd either to kill the de'il or catch him alive: And as they came near the place, the ass fell a-crying, which caused many of                    them to faint and run back. Na, na, co' Willie, that's nae the de'ils words at a', it's my Lord's trumpeter touting on his brass whistle. Willie ventured till he                    saw the ass's twa lugs, Now, cried Willie back to the rest, come forward an' had