“Ye’re surely no gaun to set the dog on me?” says John Murdoch.
“Am I no?” says Jeanie, drawing and working wi’ the collar wi’ a’ her might.
John Murdoch, seeing her sae determined, slips to ae side, and gets his gun frae whaur he had hidden’t.
“And now, Jeanie,” cries he, “haud your hand, for see, I’ve a gun.”
“I dinna care gin ye had twenty guns,” said Jeanie, who had now unbuckled the collar, an’ held it in her hands; “sae tak leg-bail an’ aff wi’ ye, my man, or Bawtie comes to ye.”
“Jeanie,” quoth John Murdoch, “I’m ready to walk awa peaceably, since it maun be sae; but I’ll no be hunted frae your father’s house like a thief an’ a scoundrel; sae keep up your dog, if ye’re wise.”
“We’ll sune try that,” says Jeanie, loosening the collar; “sae at him, Bawtie! an’ we’ll sune see him rin.”
But John Murdoch stirredna ae step, and when Bawtie made at him, he keepit him aff for a while, till the brute gettin’ below the muzzle, made a dart at him; and if John Murdoch hadna jumped quickly to ae side, he wad hae gripped him; as it was, he took awa ane o’ the tails o’ his coat. And when Jeanie saw that, she was in a terrible fright, for she didna wish him hurt, and thought he wad hae ran for’t when she loosed the dog, and she cried wi’ a’ her might for Bawtie to come back. But the beast wadna mind her, for he had gotten twa or three gude paps on the nose, which made him furious; and sae when he’s gaun to mak anither spring, John Murdoch, who saw there was naething else for it, levels at him and lets drive; and round and round the beast gaed, and then ower wi’ him; and when Jeanie saw he was killed, she set up a great screigh, and ran till him, abusing John Murdoch.
“I’m sorry for’t, but it’s a’ your ain faut, Jeanie,” says he, “an’ canna now be helpit; sae fare-ye-weel.” An’ as he gaed awa, William comes runnin’ in at the other side o’ the house, an’ cries to Jeanie to ken what’s the matter.
“It’s a’ John Murdoch’s doings,” cried Jeanie; “he first affronted me, an’ now he’s killed poor Bawtie.”