Biggar and the House of Fleming

398 BIGGAR AND THE HOUSE OF FLEMING.
deny that ye hae still in the kist neuk the pickle notes that
the goodman got on Thursday last for his lambs at Biggar
Midsummer Fair." The shepherd's wife gave an evasive reply.
The gipsy then pressed her to buy some of her wares, but as
norie were wanted she took her leave.
When the shepherd returned from the hills his wife related
the conversation which she had held with the gipsy. The
suspicions of the shepherd were roused. He lost no time in
cleaning and repairing the gun, and charging it with a heavy
shot, and in securing the doors and windows in Such a
manner that no one could obtain entrance except by violence.
The shepherd's suspicions turned out to be too well founded.
About midnight a loud knocking was heard, and a furious
demand made for admittance. No attention having been
paid to the demand, an attempt was made violently to effect
an entrance by the door and windows, but this having failed,
some of the assailants sprung on the roof and commenced
to remove the thatch. The shepherd now in a voice of thun-
der ordered them to keep outside otherwise he would fire on
them. "0," said one of them, "we care naething for yer
gun ; it wants the lock." No sooner did a fellow present him-
self at an opening to descend than the shepherd took a delib-
erate aim and fired, the shot telling with deadly effect. This
hot and unexpected reception struck dismay into the hearts of
the assailants. They immediately retreated, carrying with them
their wounded comrade, but vowing to return, and inflict the
direst vengeance. The shepherd stood on guard till day-light,
when he and his family descended to Birthwood, and gave in-
formation of the attack. As they could no longer occupy their
sheiling without the risk of a renewed attack, their furniture
was that same day brought down to Birthwood, where they
took up their abode. The shepherds, in going their rounds on
the morning following, found that the sheiling had been
revisited by the gipsies, and reduced to a heap of smoking
ruins.
We may also refer to a murder committed by some Tinklers
near the village of Newbigging, three or four miles from Biggar,
which made a great sensation in the district, and was closely
associated with a man well known in Biggar at the commence-
ment of the present century. An old man named Adam