Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/242

232 will never be laid to his back—make you your market of that, for I hae it frae a sure hand."

"Will it be his lot to die on the battleground then, Ailsie Gourlay?—Will he die by the sword or the ball, as his forbears hae dune before him mony ane o' them?"

"Ask nae mair questions about it—he'll no be graced sae far," replied the sage.

"I ken ye are wiser than ither folk, Ailsie Gourlay—But wha tell'd ye this?"

"Fashna your thumb about that, Annie Winnie," answered the sybil—"I hae it frae a hand sure aneugh."

"But ye said ye never saw the foul thief," reiterated her inquisitive companion.

"I hae it frae as sure a hand," said Ailsie, "and from them that spaed his fortune before the sark gaed ower his head."

"Hark! I hear his horse's feet riding off," said the other; "they dinna sound as if good luck was wi' them."

"Mak haste, sirs," cried the paralytic