Scotland/Scots > Wilson's tales of the Borders and of Scotland > Volume 3

BILL WHYTE.
125
over making war on the king’s account, and nave taken
the road to make war on your own. Bold enough, to be
sure.’
From the moment they saw the pistols, the brothers
seemed to have changed their plan regarding us—for some
plan I am certain they had. They would now fain have
taken us into partnership with them •, but their trade was
a woundy bad one, master, with a world more of risk than
profit.
‘ Why lads,’ said Tom Curlit to Bill and me, ‘ hadn’t
you better stay with us altogether ? The road won’t do
in these days at all. No, no, the law is a vast deal over
strong for that; and you will be tucked up like dogs for
your very first affair. But, if you stay with us, you will
get on in a much quieter way on this wild moor here.
Plenty of game, Bill; and, sometimes, when the nights
are long, we contrive to take a purse with as little trouble
as may be. We had an old pedlar, only three weeks ago,
that brought us sixty good pounds.—By the way, brothers,
we must throw a few more sods over him, for I nosed
bim this morning as I went by^—And, lads, we have some-
ching in hand just now that, with to be sure a little more
risk, will pay better still. Two hundred yellow boys in
hand, and five hundred more when our work is done.
Better that, Bill, than standing to be shot at, for a shilling
oer day.’
‘ Two hundred in hand, and five hundred more when
you have done your work! ’ exclaimed Bill. ‘ Why, that
is sure enough princely pay, unless the work be very bad
indeed. But, come, tell us what you propose. You can’t
expect us to make it a leap in the dark matter.’
‘ The work is certainly a little dangerous,’ said Tom,
‘ and we of ourselves are rather few; but, if you both join
with us, there would be a vast deal less of danger indeed.
The matter is just this, A voung fellow, like ourselves,