Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/376

288 the ball played skelk on's ribs is (as) they had been a granite stane. Thinkin' I had ower little puther in I loads again, puttin' in a puckle extra (quantity). I didna travel far fan (when) I sees my lad, again fires, only to hear the ball play skelk again. Weel, I shot an shot an better nor shot, till my amunition was a' deen (done) but ae shot a (of) puther, but I had nae ball. Stoppin' at a shiel near the head a Gairn (a stream in the Forest), the boy an me made pert t' pit by the nicht; but sic (such) a nicht is (as) we pat by. About the bell hoor the terriblest noise raise (rose) that ever I heard—boorin' like a bull, lowin' like a coo, and scraapin' as they wud (would) seen (soon) scrarap the rocks oot at their foondations. I wiz feart (afraid), an the boy wiz very, very feart; but I at the lenth (length) took courage, and I cries oot in God's name if your head wud rive. It never gave anither myout nor maneer."

"An faht think ye, Mr. Catnach, it wiz?"

"I'm in nac doubts faht it wiz. I saw't wee my twa leukin een. It wiz jist aul Hornie himsel, an he geed up a rock at the back a bothy in a great flash of fire."

"An ye got nae venison, did ye?"

"Aye, did I. As I wiz cummin doon the Glacks' o'Gairn I met a decent like woman an sat doon t' hae a crack wee 'er, fan faht diz (does) she see but a fine hind comin straucht (straight) till's. ' Hae ye a shot 'i yer gun, gueedeman?' said she. 'I hae puther but nae ball t' put in,' quo' I. 'Lat me see yer gun, gueedeman.' I gyah (gave) 'er my gun. She leuket at it, saying, ' Te hae a neeper (neighbour) wee an ill ee. Dunna len' him yer gun again, but tack a shot at that hind.' Tackin a careless aim kennin there wiz nae ball in I fired. Heels ower head geed the hind shot fair throww the heart."

"But fat cam o' the woman?"

"But that's mair nor I can tell. The boy said shee geed up the brae like a bawd, but I never believe 'im. The boy an me cam hame an twa gueede birns (burdens), an I had plenty a venison till my Yeel dinner in spite o' the deal (devil), but to sure wark I got a silver cross button on for a vissie on my gun."