“If ye can catch him,” said a waif, with a knowing wink; and he made off as fast as he could.
“If I can what?” said Dan. “I believe you’re the vagabond that’s puggied me, and I’ll catch ye, supple an’ a’ as ye think ye are!”
Dan started, holding the spade over his head, fury in his eye, vengeance in his heart. The crowd saw that his blood was up, and cried, “Run, run, run for your very life!”
The man got into the field that lay between Dan’s cottage and Knowe Park; Dan followed, as did also many of the crowd. The pursued man, repenting of his rashness, and fearing the worst, as well he might, made straight for Knowe Park wall.
Bell had heard the laughter when milking Daisy; Mr. and Mrs. Barrie had heard it when taking an evening stroll in the garden, and all three were standing at the wall wondering what could cause it, as the laughter was unusually boisterous. They saw the chase begin. The flying man observed Mr. Barrie, and made toward him as to a city of refuge. When Mr. Barrie saw Dan rushing on, so dangerously armed and so furious, he cried loudly, “Stop, Corbett! stop! I command you.”
This made Dan slacken his pace and lower his spade, but he walked sulkily on with the crowd, saying, “I’m no’ dune wi’ him yet. I’ll gi’e him’t for this yet.—Wait a wee, just wait a wee,” until they came to the wall of the garden.
“Whatever is all this about?” said Mr. Barrie. “What’s wrong, Corbett, that you are so furious?”
“A’s wrang, sir, a’s wrang. I’ve been rubbit [i.e. robbed], an’ insulted, an’ chagareened by that—” It took Dan a little time to select an epithet strong enough for the occasion, and at the same time fit for the minister’s ears. This was a difficult matter; many rushed to his tongue-end, strong, withering, seasoned; undoubtedly, had it not been for Mr. Barrie, he would have fired them off in a volley, and greatly relieved himself thereby. At length he hurled out, “that unhanged vagabond, he’s puggied me, but—”
Mr. Barrie looked at Dan, and said, “Stop, Corbett, say no more till your passion cools;” then turning to the crowd he said, “What is the cause of this unseemly uproar?”
PROBING THE WOUND.