id, what to think, or whither to betake myself. I was sore hurt
by the blows of the desperate ruffian; and, what was worse, my ankle
was so much strained that I could hardly set my foot to the ground. I
was obliged to apply to the weaver once more, to see if I could learn
anything about my clothes, or how the change was effected. "Sir," said
I, "how comes it that you have robbed me of my clothes, and put these
down in their place over night?"

"Ha! thae claes? Me pit down the claes!" said he, gaping with
astonishment, and touching the clothes with the point of his
forefinger. "I never saw them afore, as I have death to meet wi', so
help me God!"

He strode into the work-house where I slept, to satisfy himself that my
clothes were not there, and returned perfectly aghast with
consternation. "The doors were baith fast lockit," said he. "I could
hae defied a rat either to hae gotten out or in. My dream has been
true! My dream has been true! The Lord judge between thee and me; but
in His name, I charge you to depart out o' this house; an', gin it be
your will, dinna tak the braidside o't w'ye, but gang quietly out at
the door wi' your face foremost. Wife, let naught o' this enchanter's
remain i' the house, to be a curse, an' a snare to us; gang an' bring
him his gildit weapon, an' may the Lord protect a' his ain against its
hellish an' deadly point!"

The wife went to seek my poniard, trembling so excessively that she
could hardly walk, and, shortly after, we heard a feeble scream from
the pantry. The weapon had disappeared with the clothes, though under
double lock and key; and, the terror of the good people having now
reached a disgusting extremity, I thought proper to make a sudden
retreat, followed by the weaver's anathemas.

My state both of body and mind was now truly deplorable. I was hungry,
wounded, and lame, an outcast and a vagabond in society; my life sought
after with avidity, and all for doing that to which I was predestined
by Him who fore-ordains whatever comes to pass. I knew not whither to
betake me. I had purposed going into England and there making some use
of the classical education I had received, but my lameness rendered
this impracticable for the present. I was therefore obliged to turn my
face towards Edinburgh, where I was little known--where concealment was
more practicable than by skulking in the country, and where I might
turn my mind to something that was great and good. I had a little
mon