[15] Cover carefully.
He then locked the door, and “warned” his cronies and neighbours to come “sharp seven,” and they would see something really worth their while.
Dan was in the fidgets all afternoon. Shortly before seven o’clock a small crowd had gathered in his garden, to which Dan told the pedigree of the birds, and spoke of their qualities in the most glowing terms.
“Let’s see them, Dan,” said several voices; “let’s see them.”
“I’m waiting for Watty,” said Dan; and turning to a boy, said, “Gang to the house-end, ma man, an’ see if he’s no’ comin’;” then addressing his visitors, he said, “Watty’s the only man that I’m feared for in this district; his birds hae beaten mine owre often; I’ll tether him noo, or I’m cheated.”
As Dan finished this speech, Watty, a queer-looking customer wearing a hairy skull-cap, smoking a short black pipe, and with both hands in his pockets, joined the gathering. He gave a side nod to Dan, and said “Hoo’s a’?” to the company.
’TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP.
“Noo for the show!” said Dan, as he unlocked the hen-house (it was coal-house, goat-house, and served various other purposes), and flung the door wide open, saying, “Come awa’, grannie, wi’ your ‘royal family.’ There’s a pictur’, men, for ye.”
Grannie’s family had been restless, because hungry and particularly thirsty, and she and they obeyed Dan’s summons with great readiness and even haste.
Watty, who had till then smoked on in silence, quickly took the pipe out of his mouth, stooped a little, shaded his eyes with one hand, and seemed sadly puzzled. His first remark was: