yond my humanity. The three poor lads, seeing me
hesitate, were much moved, and one of them (Sandy Blackie) said, "I told
you how it would be; it was even-down madness to throw ourselves into the
lion's mouth." To this Swinton replied, "Mr Pawkie, we have cast
ourselves on your mercy as a gentleman."

What could I say to this, but that I hoped they would find me one; and
without speaking any more at that time--for indeed I could not, my heart
beat so fast--I bade them follow me, and taking them round by the back
road to my garden yett, I let them in, and conveyed them into a warehouse
where I kept my bales and boxes. Then slipping into the house, I took
out of the pantry a basket of bread and a cold leg of mutton, which, when
Mrs Pawkie and the servant lassies missed in the morning, they could not
divine what had become of; and giving the same to them, with a bottle of
wine--for they were very hungry, having tasted nothing all day--I went
round to my brother's to see at the latest how Richard was. But such a
stang as I got on entering the house, when I heard his mother wailing
that he was dead, he having fainted away in getting the bullet extracted;
and when I saw his father coming out of the room like a demented man, and
heard again his upbraiding of me for having refused a warrant to
apprehend the murderers--I was so stunned with the shock, and with the
thought of the poor young lads in my mercy, that I could with difficulty
support myself along the passage into a room where there was a chair,
into which I fell rather than threw myself. I had not, however, been
long seated, when a joyful cry announced that Richard was recovering, and
presently he was in a manner free from pain; and the doctor assured me
the wound was probably not mortal. I did not, however, linger long on
hearing this; but hastening home, I took what money I had in my
scrutoire, and going to the malefactors, said, "Lads, take thir twa three
pounds, and quit the town as fast as ye can, for Richard is my nephew,
and blood, ye ken, is thicker than water, and I may be tempted to give
you up."

They started on their legs, and shaking me in a warm manner by both the
hands, they hurried away without speaking, nor could I say more, as I
opened the back yett to let them out, than bid them take tent of
themselves.

Mrs Pawkie was in a great consternation at my late absence, and when I
went home she thought I was ill, I was so pale and flurried, and she