"O well overtaken, old man,
O well overtaken," said he; 10
"Thank you kindly, sir," says the old man,
"If you be for my companie."
"How far are you going this way?"
It made the old man to smile;
"To tell you the truth, kind sir, 15
I'm just a-going twa mile.
"I am but a silly old man,
Who farms a piece of ground;
My half-year rent, kind sir,
Just comes to forty pound. 20
"But my landlord's not been at hame,—
I've not seen him twelve month or more;
It makes my rent to be large,
I've just to pay him fourscore."
"You should not have told any body, 25
For thieves there are ganging many;
If they were to light upon you,
They would rob you of every penny."
"O never mind," says the old man,
"Thieves I fear on no side; 30
My money is safe in my bags,
In the saddle on which I ride."
As they were a-riding along,
And riding a-down a ghyll,
The thief pulled out a pistòl, 35
And bade the old man stand still.
The old man was crafty and false,
As in this world are many;
He flung his old saddle o'er t' hedge,
And said, "Fetch it, if thou'lt have any." 40
This thief got off his horse,
With courage stout and bold,
To search this old man's bags,
And gave him his horse to hold.
The old man put foot in stirrup, 45
And he got on astride,
He set the thief's horse in a gallop,—
You need not bid th' old man ride!