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

126 TALES OF THE BORDERS.
has a rich old uncle, who has made his will in his favour;
but then he threatens to make another will that won’t be
so favourable to him by half; and you see the drawing
across of a knife—so—would keep the first one in force.
And that is all we have to do before pocketing the blunt.
But, then, the old fellow is as brave as a lion; and there
are two servants with him, worn-out soldiers like himself,
that would, I am sure, be rough customers. With your
help, however, we shall get on primely. The old boy’s
house stands much alone; and we shall be five to three.’
‘Well, well,’ said Bill, ‘we shall give your proposals
night’s thought, and tell you what we think of it in the
morning. But, remember, no tricks, Tom! If we engage
in the work, we must go share and share alike in the
booty.’
‘To be sure,’ said Tom; and so the conversation closed.
About eight o’clock, or so, master, I stepped out to the
door. The night was dark and boisterous as ever, and
there had come on a heavy rain. But I could see that,
dark and boisterous as it was, some one was approaching
the house with a dark lanthern. I lost no time in telling
the Curlits so.
‘ It must be the captain,’ said they; ‘ though it seems
strange that he should come here to-night. You must
away, Jack and Bill, to the loft, for it mayn’t do for the
captain to find you here; but you can lend us a hand
afterwards, should need require it.’
There was no time for asking explanations, master; and
so up we climbed to the loft, and had got snugly concealed
among some old hay, when in came the captain. But what
captain, think you? Why, just our old acquaintance,
Captain Turpic 1
‘ Lads,’ he said to the Curlits, ‘ make yourselves ready;
get your pistols. Our old scheme is blown; for the colonel
has left his house at Olney, on a journey to Scotland; but