The hunt was now over, and Gale’s lambs were all scattered abroad; he threw off his coat and tried to gather them, but he soon found that, without the assistance of Trimmy, it was impossible; so he was obliged to go home and endeavour to persuade her again out to the hill, by telling her that Mooly and Scratch had both left it. Trimmy then came joyfully, and performed in half an hour what her master could not have effected before night.
When he had gotten them all collected, and settled at their food, he went away in the evening to seek for his friend Croudy, to have some amusement with him. He found him lying in a little hollow, conversing with himself, and occasionally with Mumps, who paid very little attention to what he said. He now and then testified his sense of the honour intended to him, by giving two or three soft indolent strokes with his tail upon the ground, but withall neither lifted his head nor opened his eyes. Gale addressed his friend Croudy in a jocund and rallying manner, who took no notice of it, but continued to converse with Mumps.
“Ye’re nae great gallaunt, after a’ now, Mumps. Gin I had been you, man, an’ had seen sic twa fine beasts as Mooly an’ Scratch come to our hills, I wad hae run away to them, an’ fiddled about them, an’ smelt their noses, an’ kissed them, an’ cockit up my tail on my rigging wi’ the best o’ them; but instead o’ that, to tak the pet an’ rin away far outbye, an’ there sit turnin up your nose an’ bow-wowing as ye war a burial-boding!—hoo, man, it is very bairnly like o’ ye! Humph! fools do ay as they are bidden! Ye’re nae fool, Mumps, for ye seldom do as ye’re bidden.”
“Tell me, Croudy,” said Gale, “does Mumps really run away in a panic when he perceives the king’s hounds?”
“Panic when he perceives the king’s hounds! Are ye gaun to keep on at bletherin’ English? Tell me, ye see—for if ye be, I’m gaun to clatter nane to ye.”
“Dear Croudy, I have often told you that there is not such a thing as English and Scotch languages; the one is merely a modification of the other, a refinement as it were”——
“Ay, an exaltation like—ation! ation! I’m sure nae Scot that isna a fool wad ever let that sound, ation, come out o’ his mouth. Mumps, what say ye tilt?”
“But, Croudy, I have news to tell you that will delight you very much; only, ere I begin, tell me seriously, Does your dog really run off when he sees or hears the king’s two white hounds?”
“Really he does—Is that ony wonder? D’ye think Mumps sic a fool as no to ken a witch by a brute beast?”
“What do you mean to insinuate, Croudy?”