“Tem are six tam scoundrels, my Lort, that refuse to pe the Laird o’ Macnab’s Volunteers, and we’re just takin’ tem doon to Stirling, ta curst hallions tat ta are, to see if ta cauld steel will mak’ tem do their duty.”
This is quite as good as the wife’s request to her husband to “gang awa quietly and be hangit, and no anger the Laird.”
Speaking of the Laird and his volunteers calls to memory an episode which exhibits our hero in the character of a strategist of the first water. Macnab was proceeding from the West, on one occasion, towards Dunfermline, in charge of a company of the Breadalbane Fencibles. In those days, the Highlanders were notorious for their smuggling propensities, and an excursion to the Lowlands, whatever might be its cause or import, was an opportunity by no means to be neglected. The Breadalbane men, accordingly, contrived to store a considerable quantity of the genuine “peat reek” into the baggage carts. On the party reaching Alloa, the excisemen located therein got a hint as to the contents of the carts, so hurried out and intercepted them. Meanwhile, Macnab, accompanied by a gillie, in true feudal style, was proceeding slowly at the head of his men, and the intelligence reaching him that the baggage had been seized by a posse of excisemen, at once roused the lion within his breast.
“Did the lousy villains dare to obstruct the march of the Breadalbane Fencibles?” he exclaimed, inspired with the wrath of a thousand heroes, as away he rushed to the scene of contention.
“Who the devil are you?” he demanded as soon as he reached the excisemen.
“Gentlemen of the Excise,” was the answer.
“Robbers, thieves, you mean!” shrieked the Macnab. “How dare you lay hands on His Majesty’s stores? If you be gaugers, show me your commissions.”
Unfortunately for the excisemen, they had not deemed it necessary to bring such documents with them.