Then up and spak him mettled John Ha’ (For leugh o’ Liddesdale[1208] crackit he): ‘An I had eleven men to mysell, It’s aye the twalt man I wad be.’-- VII Then up bespak him coarse Ca’field, (I wot and little gude worth was he): ‘Thirty men is few anew, And a’ to ride in our companie.’ VIII There was horsing, horsing in haste, And cracking of whips out owre the lee; Until they cam to the Murraywhat, And they lighted there right speedilie. IX ‘A smith! a smith!’ Dickie he cries, ‘A smith, a smith, right speedilie, To turn back the caukers[1209] of our horses’ shoon! For it’s unkensome[1210] we wad be. X ‘There lives a smith on the water-side, Will shoe my little black mare for me; And I’ve a crown in my pockét, And every groat of it I wad gie.’-- XI ‘The night is mirk, and it’s very mirk, And by candle-light I canna weel see; The night is mirk, and it’s very pit mirk, And there will never a nail ca’ right for me.’-- XII ‘Shame fa’ you and your trade baith, Canna beet[1211] a good fellow by your mystery[1212]; But leeze me on[1213] thee, my little black mare, Thou’s worth thy weight in gold to me.’ XIII There was horsing, horsing in haste, And cracking of whips out owre the lee, Until they came to the Bonshaw wood, Where they held their council privately. XIV Some says, ‘We’ll gang the Annan road; It is the better road,’ said they; But up bespake then Dicky Ha’, The wisest of that company: XV Says, ‘Annan road’s a public road, It’s no the road that makes for me; But we will through at the Hoddam ford, It is the better road,’ quo’ he. XVI There was horsing, horsing in haste, And crackin’ of whips out owre the lee; Until they cam to Dumfries port[1214], And they lighted there right speedilie. XVII ‘There’s five of us will hold the horse, And other five will watchmen be: But wha’s the man among ye a’, Will gae to the tolbooth[1215] door wi’ me?’-- XVIII O up then spak him mettled John Ha’, (For leugh o’ Liddesdale crackit he): ‘If it should cost my life this very night, I’ll gae to the tolbooth door wi’ thee.’-- XIX ‘Be of gude cheir, now, Archie, lad! Be of gude cheir, now, dear billie! Work thou within, and we without, And the morn thou’se dine at Ca’field wi’ me!’ XX O Jockie Ha’ stepp’d to the door, And he bended low back on his knee, And he made the bolts that the door hang on, Loup frae the wa’ right wantonlie. XXI He took the prisoner on his back, And down the tolbooth stair cam he; The black mare stood ready at the door, I wot a foot ne’er stirrèd she. XXII