Page:History of Buckhaven.pdf/22

22 my Lord we was aboon ither on the mussel midden. I trow I tell'd him o' Randy Rab, his uncle, his ain titty that steal'd de sarks and drank de siller, and how his mither sal'd mauky mutton, and mair than a' that, my Lord.

My Lord had a friend, a captain in the army, who came to visit him, and having heard of the Backers' sayings and exploits, was desirous to see them. My Lord, put them in a fright, sent his servant to order them all, men and women, to come up before his gate to-morrow, about kail time; and all that did not come, was to flit and remove out of my Lord's ground directly. This put the whole town into a terrible consternation some ran to Wise Willie, to see if he cond tell what he meant. Willie said, that it was before something; and he said he was sure death was the worst o't, came what will. But Witty Eppir, said, I ken weel wh t's to come, he's gann to make de men o's a' sodgers, and the wives dragoons, because they're the best fighters: I ken there's something to come on the town, for our Nancy saw Maggy's ghaist the streen, it was huried about four weeks sinsyne. A hech co' Aillie, that's a sign the meal's dear in the ither world, when she comes back to this ane again; we'l take our dinner afore we gae to my Lord, well may he ne'er come back again. So away the went lamenting, all in a crowd My Lord and the Captain wa looking over the window, when they arrived ; and the Captain