R A B 



lame. So she got James to leave him with 

 her, and go straight into Edinburgh. She 

 gave him water, and by her woman's wit got 

 his lame paw under a door, so that he couldn't 

 suddenly get at her, then with a quick firm 

 hand she plucked out the splinter, and put in 

 an ample meal. She went in some time after, 

 taking no notice of him, and he came limping 

 up, and laid his great jaws in her lap : from 

 that moment they were " chief," as she said, 

 James finding him mansuete and civil when 

 he returned. 



She said it was Rab's habit to make his 

 appearance exactly half-an-hour before his 

 master, trotting in full of importance, as if 

 to say, " He's all right, he'll be here." One 

 morning James came without him. He had 

 left Edinburgh very early, and in coming 

 near Auchindinny, at a lonely part of the 

 road, a man sprang out on him, and demanded 

 his money. James, who was a cool hand, 

 said, " Weel-a-weel, let me get it," and step- 

 ping back, he said to Rab, " Speak till him, 



ii 



