if a' the bogies in the Red Sea
were trapesin' up and doon the hale nicht through, I wud never put my
heid oot again tae hae a glimpse o' them.

I didna say a word tae anybody aboot what I'd seen, but I made up my
mind that I wudna stay muckle langer at Cloomber Ha'. Four pund a month
is a good wage, but it isna enough tae pay a man for the loss o' his
peace o' mind, and maybe the loss o' his soul as weel, for when the deil
is aboot ye canna tell what sort o' a trap he may lay for ye, and though
they say that Providence is stronger than him, it's maybe as weel no' to
risk it.

It was clear tae me that the general and his hoose were baith under some
curse, and it was fit that that curse should fa' on them that had earned
it, and no' on a righteous Presbyterian, wha had ever trod the narrow
path.

My hairt was sair for young Miss Gabriel--for she was a bonnie and
winsome lassie--but for a' that, I felt that my duty was tae mysel' and
that I should gang forth, even as Lot ganged oot o' the wicked cities o'
the plain.

That awfu' cling-clang was aye dingin' in my lugs, and I couldna bear
to be alane in the passages for fear o' hearin' it ance again. I only
wanted a chance or an excuse tae gie the general notice, and tae gang
back to some place where I could see Christian folk, and have the kirk
within a stone-cast tae fa' back upon.

But it proved tae be ordained that, instead o' my saying the word, it
should come frae the general himsel'.

It was ane day aboot the beginning of October, I was comin' oot o' the
stable, after giein' its oats tae the horse, when I seed a great muckle
loon come hoppin' on ane leg up the drive, mair like a big, ill-faured
craw than a man.

When I clapped my een on him I thocht that maybe this was ane of the
rascals that the maister had been speakin' aboot, so withoot mair ado
I fetched oot my bit stick with the intention o' tryin' it upon the
limmer's heid. He seed me comin' towards him, and readin' my intention
frae my look maybe, or frae the stick in my hand, he pu'ed oot a lang
knife frae his pocket and swore wi' the most awfu' oaths that if I didna
stan' back he'd be the death o' me.

Ma conscience! the words the chiel used was eneugh tae mak' the hair
stand straight on your heid. I wonder he wasna struck deid where he
stood.

We were still standin' opposite each ither--he wi' his knife and me wi'
the stick--when the general he cam up the drive and foond us. Tae my
surprise he