So the straining and pulling was all homewards. But
her master had brought her as chief witness against the boys, and she
must remain where she was.
"Eh, lass!" he said, hauling her back by the string; "gin ye had but
the tongue o' the prophet's ass, ye wad sune pint out the rascals that
misguided and misgrugled ye that gait. But here's the just judge
that'll gie ye yer richts, and that wi'oot fee or reward.--Mr Malison,
she was ane o' the bonniest bicks ye cud set yer ee upo'--"
A smothered laugh gurgled through the room.
-???"till some o' your loons--nae offence, sir--I ken weel eneuch they're
no yours, nor a bit like ye--some o' your peowpils, sir, hae jist ca'd
(driven) the sowl oot o' her wi' stanes."
"Whaur does the sowl o' a bitch bide?" asked Goat, in a whisper, of his
neighbour.
"De'il kens," answered Gapey; "gin it binna i' the boddom o' Rob
Bruce's wame."
The master's wrath, ready enough to rise against boys and all their
works, now showed itself in the growing redness of his face. This was
not one of his worst passions--in them, he grew white--for the injury
had not been done to himself.
"Can you tell me which of them did it?"
"No, sir.
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