"Tho' dark the night as pick and tar,45
I'll guide ye o'er yon hills fu' hie,
And bring ye a' in safety back,
If you'll be true and follow me."
He's guided them o'er moss and muir,
O'er hill and houp, and mony a down;50
Til they came to the Foulbogshiel,
And there, brave Noble, he lighted down.
Then word is gane to the Land-sergeant,
In [Askirton] where that he lay—
"The deer that ye hae hunted lang55
Is seen into the Waste this day."
"Then Hobie Noble is that deer!
I wat he carries the style fu' hie;
Aft has he beat your slough-hounds back,
And set yourselves at little lee.60
"Gar warn the bows of Hartlie-burn,
See they shaft their arrows on the wa'!
Warn [Willeva], and [Spear Edom],
And see the morn they meet me a'.
"Gar meet me on the [Rodrie-haugh],65
And see it be by break o' day;
And we will on to [Conscowthart-Green],
For there, I think, we'll get our prey."
Then Hobie Noble has dream'd a dream,
In the Foulbogsheil where that he lay;70
He thought his horse was 'neath him shot,
And he himself got hard away.
The cocks could crow, and the day could dawn,
And I wat so even down fell the rain;
If Hobie had no waken'd at that time,75
In the Foulbogshiel he had been tane or slain.