Page:History and comical transactions of Lothian Tom (7).pdf/12

 12 Comical Tranfactions of Lothian Tom. the fpeed he could, but takes another road into the town, left they fhould follow and catch him. Now when the people to whom the corn belonged, faw fuch a band in their held, they could not underftand the meaning of it; but the goodman, whofe corn it was, went off, crying always as he ran, to them to ftop; but they would not, until he began he ftrike at them and they at him, he being in a great paffion, as the corn was not fully ripe; at laft by force of argument, and other people coming up to them, the poor fhearers were convinced they had got the bite, which caufed them to go away lamenting their misfortune. In two or three days thereafter, as Tom was going down the Cannongate, he meets one of his fhearers, who knew him and kept faft by him, demanding his money, and fa- tisfaction for the reft: Whiflit, whifht, fays Tom, and you’ll get yours and fomething elfe befide. So Tom takes him into the jaii, and calls for a bottle of ale and a dram, then takes the jailor afide, as if he had been go- ing to borrow the money from him; and fays to the jailor, this man here is a great thief, I and two others have been in fearch of him thefe three days, and the other two men have the warrant with them, fo if you keep this rogue here till I run and bring them, you fhall have a guinea in reward; yes, faid the jailor, go, and I will fix the rogue for you, Tom gets clear out, leaving the poor inno-