SIR WALTER AND HIS DOGS 219 



Walter gaed out to tak' a walk, and cried to me to 

 follow him. When we war joost gaen up near to 

 the turn before we cum' to the Boor, 1 Pepper and 

 Finnet were hunting the woods, and Maida was 

 gaen ahint us ; and, to my great astonishment, 

 when I lukit a wee piece among the trees, Di, who 

 was wi' me, war standing, and pit out her muckle 

 tail like the handle of a cleik. Or ever I wishes, 

 out gets a dirty beast of a hare, and bangs right on 

 to the walk afore us. Sir Walter and the other 

 man war gaen side by side ; or ever I kent, Maida 

 pit his muckle nose past me, when Pepper barkit, 

 and set up his great lugs ; and as the gentleman 

 walked rather wide at the knee, he saw the hare 

 through atween his legs, and made a great brush all 

 at aince, and lifted him off his feet. The gentle- 

 man, thinking he was going to fa, cotched a firm 

 grip o' Maida's rough hair as he sat strid' legs on 

 his back. Maida wanted to follow Pepper, and rin 

 awa wi' him aboot thirty yards, when he coupit 

 him off, and he fell owr' the brae among the bushes 

 on the under side o' the walk ; and Sir Walter gie 

 a laugh ; and I cudna behave mysel' ava', for I was 

 nearly fawd doon wi' laughing too. Hey, mon, I 

 never was so takken by the face in aw my life ; 

 and when the gentleman got up, his breeks were 

 riven at the knee ; and when he cam' out from 

 among the bushes, he lookit sae soor, that Sir 

 Walter turned round and flate on me for laughing ; 

 but if I was to dee for it, I cudna help it ; and Sir 

 Walter turned his back to the gentleman and 

 laughed himsel', joost as bad as me ; but the gentle- 



1 A mosshouse or rustic seat. 



