Instabilis tellus, innabilis unda,
out of which it is the mercy of Providence that I was at length able to swatter, after dooking and diving in it like a wild-duck for the better part of a quarter of an hour, till I was nearly drowned in clean mud.
Clifford.—Clean mud, Mr. Macpherson! The mud you have been in would seem to me to have been anything but clean.
Dominie.—True, Mr. Clifford; but I used a phrase of our vernacular, meaning that there was nothing else there but mud—a truth I can speak to by having gone faithfully throughout every corner of the big hole into which I fell without finding any.—Clean, truly!—such a fearsome sight I am!—I declare I am worse than Serjeant John Smith must have been, when he fell into the moss-hole about the time of the battle of Culloden.—Would you like to hear that story, gentlemen?
Clifford.—Much, Mr. Macpherson, but not now, for several reasons. First, we must contrive to get you into dry clothes of some sort, to prevent your dying of cold or fever; secondly, you must have something to eat before you are permitted to talk; and thirdly, there is another Serjeant, one Serjeant Archy Stewart, who is at this moment on duty, and who was in the middle of a long story when your appearance interrupted him. We must have that out first; but, in my capacity of secretary, I shall take care to book you for producing your Serjeant John Smith, when his time comes in the roster.
Dominie.—Eh, I’m sorry that I should have stopped the flow of my friend Serjeant Archy’s narration.
Clifford.—How could it have been otherwise, my good man? Why, what flow could have possibly stood against such a flow as that which now streams from your wet garments, Mr. Macpherson? You have already made a lake in the room.
Dominie.—Keep me, so I have!
Serjeant.—Here lassie! Bring cloths and swab up the floor.
Clifford.—You had better not sit longer in that condition, Mr. Macpherson; come away with me up to the garret, where we are to sleep, and then I shall go and see what I can prevail on Mrs. Shaw to do for you, to rig you out.