an's death. As for my late Lord Durrisdeer, I served him
and loved him near twenty years; and thought more of him the more I knew
of him. Altogether, I think it not fit that so much evidence should
perish; the truth is a debt I owe my lord's memory; and I think my old
years will flow more smoothly, and my white hair lie quieter on the
pillow, when the debt is paid.

The Duries of Durrisdeer and Ballantrae were a strong family in the
south-west from the days of David First. A rhyme still current in the
countryside--

"Kittle folk are the Durrisdeers,
They ride wi' ower mony spears"--

bears the mark of its antiquity; and the name appears in another, which
common report attributes to Thomas of Ercildoune himself--I cannot say
how truly, and which some have applied--I dare not say with how much
justice--to the events of this narration:

"Twa Duries in Durrisdeer,
Ane to tie and ane to ride.
An ill day for the groom
And a waur day for the bride."

Authentic history besides is filled with their exploits, which (to our
modern eyes) seem not very commendable: and the family suffered its full
share of those ups and downs to which the great houses of Scotland have
been ever liable. But all these I pass over, to come to that memorable
year 1745, when the foundations of this tragedy were laid.

At that time there dwelt a family of four persons in the house of
Durrisdeer, near St. Bride's, on the Solway shore; a chief hold of their
race since the Reformation. My old lord, eighth of the name, was not old
in years, but he suffered prematurely from the disabilities of age; his
place was at the chimney side; there he sat reading, in a lined gown,
with few words for any man, and wry words for none: the model of an old
retired housekeeper; and yet his mind very well nourished with study,
and reputed in the country to be more cunning than he seemed. The Master
of Ballantrae, James in baptism, took from his father the love of
serious reading; some of his tact, perhaps, as well, but that which was
only policy in the father became black dissimulation in the son. The
face of his behaviour was merely popular and wild: he sat late at wine,
later at the cards; had the name in the country of "an unco man for the
lasses"; and was ever in the front of broils. But for all he was the
first to go in, yet it was observed he was invariably the best to come
off; and his partners in mischief were usually alone to pay the piper.