Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/285

 shewed nae signs of cruelty; but only said, it would na be consistent wi' their duty to let their prisoner escape."

"And what had my bairn done to be made a prisoner o'?" cried the widow.

"Why ye ken," returned Grizzy, "that Sandy was ay a wilfu' lad; so it's no to be wondered at, that whan he was ordered to stand this gait, and that gait, and had his hair tugged till it was ready to crack, and his neck made sair wi' standing ajee, he should tak it but unco ill. So he disobeyed orders; and than they lashed him, and his proud stamach cou'd na get o'er the disgrace; and than he ran aff, and hade himsel three days in the muirs. On the fourt day he cam here; and than the sogers got haud o' him; and they took him awa' to be tried for a deserter. So ye see Mrs Mason than got the minester to apply to the captains and the coronels about him; but they said they had resolved to make an example o' him, and naething cou'd mak them