"An' sae ha'e I, for the matter o' that. We dinna speak."
"Speed's death maun be revenged. Set Wat's fat straw-stack afire. It wad mak' a gran' blaze."
"Nay, nay!" I cried. "Gae lang noo. I willna be your partner i' ony sich doin's!"
At that, the De'il bided awee. But I cud hear him lashin' his tail just outside my heart-door. It was bolted an' barred sae that he cudna walk i'. "Dugald Moir," he ca'd again, "ha'e you buried puir Speed?"
"Nay, Mister De'il. I canna pairt wi' him juist noo."
"Wat's Sou'-Downs will nibble the sod aboon his grave. Better pop owre ane or twa o' them. You ca' then feed your loss wi' a bit o' roast mutton. It wad ainly be tooth for tooth."
"I daurna, auld Timpter. The Maister's Book says: 'Return gude for evil.' Wat's Sou'-Downs are nae mine to kill an' eat."
"Hoot, mon! Was Speed his ain dog to shoot doon i' a minit?"
"But he was worritin' the wee lambs o' the flock."
Here the De'il knockit hard an' strong. "Dugald Moir, Wat ha'e a dog o' his ain. Ca' him up, an' treat him to a bit o' poisoned meat. That wad ainly be tit for tat."