Jamie, too, was beginning to be in earnest, and the champion was seized and dashed to the ground in an instant, which done, Jamie ran up to the Laird and inquired—
“Lo’d! have I a’ that dyke o’ men to throw, Laird? If sae, tell their maister to ca’ oot twa or three o’ them at ance, for I maun be hame in time to tak’ in the kye.”
The Castlegate rang with shouts of laughter, and the bet was declared off.
Jamie liked to accompany the Laird whithersoever he went, and, mounted on a huge “rung,” he could keep pace with his master’s pony, if the journey was not a very long one. One year the Laird set out for Perth Races, and, as the sequel indicates, without—purposely or forgetfully—making Fleeman aware of his intention. Udny had not proceeded far on his journey, however, until the scene of his sojourn was being talked about the house. Jamie’s ears, always on the cock, caught the word, and, taking to his rung, he cut across the country, and reached St. Johnstone before his master. Jamie had a friend in the kitchen of every house at which Udny was in the habit of visiting, and, calling on one or other of his Perthshire benefactors, he had got served with the larger half of a leg of mutton. With this he repaired to the Brig of Perth to make a meal, and wait the Laird’s arrival. It was not long until the Laird of Udny made his appearance.
“Hilloa, Fleeman,” said he, reining up his nag, “are you here already?”
“Ca’ awa’, Laird,” said Jamie, smacking his lips, and not deigning to look his interrogator in the face—“ca’ awa’! Ye ken a body when they hae something.”
It is recorded of him that one day when travelling along the road he found a horse shoe. Shortly after Mr. Craigie, the minister of St. Fergus, came up to him. Jamie knew the minister well, and, holding up the shoe and examining it carefully all round the while—
“Od, minister,” he said, “can ye tell me what that is?”
“That!” said the minister, “you fool, that’s a horse shoe!”
“Ah!” said Fleeman, with a sigh, “sic a blessin’ it is to hae book lear! I couldna tell whether it was a horse’s shoe or a mare’s!”