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"They'll kill him, the murdering loons, and think they're doing a gude turn! but I'se tak the back road for Hamilton, and see if I canna get some o' our ain folk to bring help in time of needcessity." So saying, Cuddie hastened to the stable, and taking the best horse he could find instead of his own tired animal, he galloped off in the direction he proposed.
As for Morton, he exhausted his own very slender stock of money in order to make Cuddie such a present, under the name of arles, as might show his sense of the value of the recommendation delivered to him.
But when the steward, on the morning of the eventful day, had mustered his troupe dore before the iron gate of the tower, the mother of Cuddie Headrigg the ploughman appeared, loaded with the jackboots, buff coat, and other accoutrements which had been issued forth for the service of the day, and laid them before the steward; demurely assuring him, that "whether it were the colic, or a qualm of conscience, she couldna tak upon her to decide, but sure it was, Cuddie had been in sair straits a' night, and she couldna say he was muckle better this morning.
That's the auld Border law, made at Dundrennan, in the days of the Black Douglas, Deil ane need doubt it. It's as clear as the sun." "Come away, then, lads," cried Simon, "get to your geldings, and we'll take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us; he kens the value o' the stock and plenishing that's been lost.
"It's my gudeman, sir," said the young woman, with a smile of welcome. "Will you alight, sir, and come into our puir dwelling? Cuddie, Cuddie," a white-headed rogue of four years appeared at the door of the hut "rin awa, my bonny man, and tell your father a gentleman wants him. Or, stay, Jenny, ye'll hae mair sense: rin ye awa and tell him; he's down at the Four-acres Park.
Entrance was therefore easy, providing there was no one in the pantry, a point which Cuddie endeavoured to discover before he made the final and perilous step.
Faustina burst into a fresh flood of tears as she threw herself upon the wretched bed. "Let me tak' aff the fetters," said Cuddie gently. Faustina arose to a sitting position, and held up her hands. Cuddie, with some trouble, got them off, but so awkwardly that he bruised and grazed her wrists in doing so, while Faustina wept piteously and railed freely.
Morton took the billet, and crimsoning up to the ears, between joy and surprise, read these words: "If you can serve these poor helpless people, you will oblige E. B." It was a few instants before he could attain composure enough to ask, "And what is your object, Cuddie? and how can I be of use to you?"
A Fairfax! Hark how the corslets ring! Why are the blacksmiths out to-day, beating those men at the spring? Ho, Willie, Hob and Cuddie! bring out your boats amain, There's a great red pool to swim them o'er, yonder in Deadman's Lane. Nay, do not cry, sweet Katie only a month afloat And then the ring and the parson, at Fairlight Church, my doat. The flower-strewn path the Press Gang!
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