The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

THE HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN. 623
" 0 Cot tam! - this is too cruel, my leddy - as if it was not py special
express from his Grace's honourable agent and commissioner at Edinburgh,
with a warrant conform, that I was to seek for and apprehend Donacha dhu
na Dunaigh, and pring him pefore myself and Sir George Staunton, that he
may have his deserts, that is to say, the gallows, whil.k he has doubtless
deserved, py peing the means of frightening your leddyship, as weel as for
something of less importance."
"Frightening me!" said her ladyship; " why, I never wrote to Sir George
about my alarm at the waterfall."
" Then he must have heard it otherwise; for what else can give him sic
an earnest tesire to see this rapscallion, that I maun ripe the haill mosses
and muirs in the country for him, as if I were to get something for finding
him, when the pest o't might pe a pall through my prains?"
" Can it be really true, that it is on Sir George's account that you have
been attempting to apprehend this fellow?"
" Py Cot, it is for no other cause that I know than his honour's pleasure;
for the creature might hae gone on in a decent quiet way for me, sae lang as
he respectit the Duke's pounds-put reason goot he suld be taen, and hangit
to poot, if it may pleasure ony honourable shentleman that is the Duke's
friend - Sae I got the express over night, and I cause warn half a score of
pretty lads, and was up in the morning pefore the sun, and I garr'd the lads
take their kilts and short coats."
"I wonder you did that, Captain," said Mrs. Butler, "when you know
the act of parliament against wearing the Highland dress."
" Hout, tout, ne'er fash your thumb, Mrs. Putler. The law is put twathree years auld yet, and is ower young to hae come our length; and pesides,
how is the lads to climb the praes wi' thae tamn'd breekens on them? It
makes me sick to see them. Put ony how, I thought I kend Donacha's
haunt gey and weel, and I was at the place where he had rested yestreen;
for I saw the leaves the limmers had lain on, and the ashes of them; by the
same token, there was a pit greeshoch purning yet. I am thinking they got
some word out o' the island what was intended -I sought every glen and
cleuch, as if I had been deer-stalking, but teil a wauff of his coat-tail could
I see - Cot tam 1"
" He'll be away down the firth to Cowal," said David; and Reuben, who
had been out early that morning a-nutting, observed, " That he had seen a
boat making for the Caird's Cove;" a place well known to the boys, though
their less adventurous father was ignorant of its existence.
" Py Cot," said Duncan, "then I will stay here no longer than to trink
this very horn of prandy and water, for it's very possible they will pe in the
wood. Donacha's a clever fellow, and maype thinks it pest to sit next the
chimley when the lum reeks. He thought naebody would look for him sae
near hand! I peg your leddyship will excuse my aprupt departure, as I
will return forthwith, and I will either pring you Donacha in life, or else
his head, whilk I dare to say will be as satisfactory. And I hope to pass a
pleasant evening with your leddyship; and 1 hope to have mine revenges on:
Mr. Putler at packgammon, for the four pennies whilk he won, for he will
pe surely at home soon, or else he will have a wet journey, seeing it is apout
to pe a scud."
Thus saying, with many scrapes and bows, and apologies for leaving
them, which were very readily received, and reiterated assurances of his
speedy return, (of the sincerity whereof Mrs. Butler entertained no doubt,
so long as her best greybeard of brandy was upon duty,) Duncan left the
Manse, collected his followers, and began to scour the close and entangled
wood which lay between the little glen and the Caird's Cove. David, who
was a favourite with the Captain, on account of his spirit and courage,
took the opportunity of escaping, to attend the investigations of that great
man.