"Here I hae lived this thirty years and three,

And I ne'er yet saw the Tyne sae big,

Nor rinnin' ance sae like a sea."

Then up and spake the Laird's saft Wat,

The greatest coward in the company—

"Now halt, now halt, we needna try't;

The day is com'd we a' maun die!"

"Poor faint-hearted thief!" quo' the Laird's ain Jock,

"There'll nae man die but he that's fie;

I'll lead ye a' right safely through;