Oh, Jock, I think I see him yet; That scene I never can forget, Broad-shouthered, slight o' powerful bield, Long-armed, lean-shankit, strapping chield; His fearfu' tail, red, stiff, and stark, And at the end the gleamin' spark! Gudesake, to think the Prince o' H--l, At oor grand game should bear the bell! He drove a long, low ripping shot, O'er brig and road to the green he got. I followed true, for me right good, But, alas, I landed on the road! My heart it sank, but I lay clean, For muckle waur I might hae been. I took my cleek--Oh, blessed happy lick! Home went the ball fornent the stick, Dead as a corp, or Julius Caesar, Baalam's ass, or Nebuchenezzar. Forward I ran, richt eager, to the green To see how good my luck had been. Fortune indeed had smiled upon me, I lay a dead and perfect stymie! Auld Sin he looked as black as thunder To be so foiled, I dinna wonder. I sprang wi' glee, and gied a howl,-- 'I've stymed the Deil and saved my sowl!' 'Villain!' he roared, 'You sot, you've done me, My malison and curse be on ye!' With that he struck me wi' his tail Right on the stern, just like a flail, So cruel, strong, severe a lounder, In faith it felled me flat's a flounder. [Illustration] I ken nae mair, all was confusion, How long I lay I have nae notion. My friends they tell me I was found Senseless, and dead-like, on the ground; Home to my bed they kindly bore me, Made fruitless efforts to restore me, But all in vain, for fever seized me, And friendly death well-nigh released me. Seven days and nights I raved and tossed, For ever screaming lost, lost, lost! The ravings of a fevered brain, As I went o'er and o'er again The scenes and horrors of that night, Freezing my listeners with affright. A weary time; but, to be brief, Kind Heaven in mercy sent relief. At last, far gane, I found my head, And kent the folk about my bed; Among them I was pleased to view My worthy friend Nurse Killiegrew, For she had with her presence blessed me, And thro' my illness watched and nursed me. I had their warm congratulations, And their demands for explanations About my ravings wild and furious (Women are aye sae keen and curious). 'Poor man,' quoth Nurse, 'you've had a lesson, 'Twill ease your mind to mak' confession.' Abashed, ashamed, I hesitated, At last, with pain, my tale related. My yarn, of course, made great sensation; They groaned and grat at the narration, Save Nurse, who shook her head in sadness, Incredulous, declared my story madness. Said she, 'You fancy you have seen the Deevil, And golfed and bargained wi' the Prince o' Evil; You've had the horrors, it would seem, And what you tell us was a drunkard's dream.'