Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (6).pdf/13

 13 ſtand the meaning of it; but the goodman went off, crying always, as he ran, to then to fop, but they would not, until he began to ſtrike at them, and they at him, he being in a paſſion, as the corn was not fully ripe ; at laſt, by force of argument, and other people coming up to them, the poor ſhearers were convinced they had got the bite, which caused them to go away lamenting their great misfortune. In two or three days thereafter, as Tom was going down the Cannongate, he meets one of his ſhearers, who knew him, and kept faſt by him, de- manding his money and ſatisfaction for the reſt: Whiſht, whiſht, ſays Tom, and you'll get yours, and cſomething elſe beſide. So Tom takes him into the jail, and calls for a bottle of ale and a drain, then takes the jailer aſide, as if he had been going to borrow the money from him, and ſays to the jailer. This man 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 tid ( run and bring them, you shall have a guinea in re- ward. Yes ſaid the jailor, go, and I'll fix the rogue for you. Tom gets clear out, leaving the poor innocent fellow and the jailor ſtruggling together, and then ſets off for England directly.