"Oh, Bunko, Bunko! is that a' the comfort ye have to gie?"
"Wheesht, women. Hold your din till I tell ye."
"When I returned sair for-fochten" (sorely over-powered), "I found the public-hoose open, and in I gaed to taste a drap for my stomach's sake. And wha saw I sittin' there by the fire but Sandie Grigg just returned from the sea. He'd heard the awfu' news, and was condolin' wi' me about it, when up he sprang frae his stool. I have it, I have it," he cried.
"Hae ye ta'en leave o' your seven sinses?" said I.
"Na, na, Bunko," said Sandie, "and if you can ride you may save every boat."
"I can ride anywhaur, or do onything to save but ane o' those bonnie boats," I cried.
"Well," he said, "it's twenty miles and a bittock to the town of D—— whaur I came from the day. The gunboat Sandpiper is there. She sails at seven sharp. You may catch her. Rin, Bunko, rin, and tell the women folks, and I'll hae Jock Leggie's brown mare at Eppie's door in a hand clap."
Even as Bunko spoke there came the sound of hoofs on the stones outside.
"Quick, Eppie, quick!" cried Bunko, dashing his plaid and pole on the floor, "give me a drink o' milk. That's it. Noo tak care o' Keelie. Keelie, lie down, sir, till I come back."
Eppie thrust a bannock in his pocket. Bunko pulled his cap down still farther over his brow, and hardly waiting to hear the prayers and blessings the poor women hurled after him, though he fain would have waited, he pulled the door open and dashed out.