Page:The Lay of the Last Minstrel - Scott (1805).djvu/254

 a passion, struck it so violent a blow upon the side of the head, that it tumbled upon the ground: but it was not stunned; for it set up its head directly, and exclaimed, 'Ah hah, Will 'o Moffat, you strike sair!' (viz. sore). After it had staid there long, one evening, when the women were milking the cows in the loan, it was playing among the children near by them, when suddenly they heard a loud shrill voice cry, three times, Gilpin Horner! It started, and said, That is me, I must away; and instantly disappeared, and was never heard of more. Old Anderson did not remember it, but said he had often heard his father, and other old men in the place, who were there at the time, speak about it; and in my younger years I have often heard it mentioned, and never met with any who had the remotest doubt as to the truth of the story; although, I must own, I cannot help thinking there must be some misrepresentation in it." To this account I have to add the following particulars, from the most respectable authority. Besides constantly repeating the word tint! tint! Gilpin Horner was often heard to call upon Peter Bertram, or Be-te-ram, as he pronounced the word; and when the shrill voice called Gilpin Homer, he immediately acknowledged it as the summons of the said Peter Bertram, who seems therefore to have been the devil who had tint, or lost, the little imp.