RAB AND HIS FRIENDS.

some, big, young shepherd ‘from Tweeds-
muir, would have liked to have knocked
down any man, would “drink up Esil, or
eat a crocodile,” for that part, if he had a
chance: it was no use kicking the little
dog ; that would only make him hold the
closer. Many were the means shouted
out in mouthfuls, of the best possible ways
of ending it. “ Water!” but there was
none near, and many cried for it who
might have got it from the well at Black-
friars Wynd. “Bite the tail!” and a
large, vague, benevolent, middle-aged man,
more desirous than wise, with some strug-
gle got the bushy end of Yarrow’s tail into
his ample mouth and bit it with all his
might. This was more than enough for
the much-enduring, much-perspiring shep-
herd, who, with a gleam of joy over his
broad visage, delivered a terrific facer
upon our large, vague, benevolent, middle-
aged friend—who went down like a shot.

Io