"Ye say ye are nae auld Ramsay; then where is he? for it is hereabouts he bides," said the same ruffian.
Father was silent.
"If ye canna tell where he is, we will hae to think ye are auld Ramsay yoursel. Ye may as weel gang to prayer, for if ye dinna gie up your obstinacy ye may soon measure your length here on the heath."
Wee Jamie did not fully comprehend; but thinking that evil was about to befall his grandfather because he was taken for another, he called out, "Auld minister Ramsay bides wi' us, down at grandfather's."
"Do ye tell us fause, ye young whelp?" said one, and he shook the bairn roughly.
"Alas! Jamie, you should have held your peace," said my father.
"Ye needna chide the bairn, for we will hunt out a' the ranting Covenanters in Ayrshire, that I can pledge ye," said another.
"That is, if you will be allowed," said father.
"Haud your auld tongue!" he retorted.