Page:John Falkirk's cariches (3).pdf/19

 friends parted, Tam found it extremely difficult to walk in a straight line.

It was considerable past the witching hour of night that Tam Merrilees proceeded towards his house, rather a little in dread of a curtain lecture. The night was dark; and the wind blowing hard on his teeth, added to his unsteadiness, caused him several times to reel against the sides of the houses, as he passed the Chapel of Ease. One of these unlucky staggers brought his shoulder to fear full against the door which led into the kirkyard. To Tam's great astonishment it flew open; and having lost his equilibrium, he made a sort of semicircular movement, and found himself standing in the midst of tombs and headstones, "Hech," said he, "the door open at this hour the night! that's extraordinar'-its incomprehensible. What in a' the warld's that?” he, perceiving something at his feet. Upon stooping down he discovered that the oject of which had arrested his attention was a wheelbarrow, having upon it a dead body, burst neck and heels into a sack. Tam lifted up his hands in amazement, and steping forward perceived at the other end of the ground some men engaged in filling up the grave from which the corps had been taken."Resurrectioners, I'm a living man!” he exclamed. "Wha