"Hear tae him, Sandy," said my captor. "He talks like a mangy lawyer. 'Lawful occasions!' We'll see aboot that. What are ye daein' here?"
Eager to satisfy the man, and in the hope that by doing so I should be permitted to continue on my way, I answered:
"I am a traveller on my way to Dumfries--I have been caught in the storm, and sought shelter and refreshment in this house"--and I tried to wrench myself from his grasp.
"A gey thin tale. Whit think ye, Sandy? As like as no' he's a Covenanter." And Sandy grunted "Umphm."
Again I tried to shake myself free--but the giant flung his arms about me, and lifting me up, struggle how I might, as though I had been a child he carried me back into the kitchen and thrust me roughly on a chair.
The woman of the house looked on open-eyed.
"Whit ken ye o' this man?" said the trooper, turning towards her, but all the while keeping a firm hold of me.
"Naething mair than yersel," she answered. "He cam' tae the door a bittock syne, and asked for something tae eat--and he peyed his lawin' like a gentleman."
"Umphm," growled my tormentor; and Sandy standing beside him answered "Umphm."
"Bring us something tae drink, Mirren, Solway waters if ye hae them. We're fair drookit," said my captor. "As for you," he said, tightening his grip on my arm, "we'll ha'e to look into your case. Sandy--fetch a tow."