第107章

``For the lofe of heavens,'' said Dousterswivel, ``say nothing at all neither about somebodies or nobodies!''

``Aweel,'' said the beggar (expanding the shade of the lantern), ``here's the stane, and, spirit or no spirit, I'se be a wee bit deeper in the grave;'' and he jumped into the place from which the precious chest had that morning been removed.

After striking a few strokes, he tired, or affected to tire, and said to his companion, ``I'm auld and failed now, and canna keep at it--time about's fair play, neighbour; ye maun get in and tak the shule a bit, and shule out the loose earth, and then I'll tak turn about wi' you.''

Dousterswivel accordingly took the place which the beggar had evacuated, and toiled with all the zeal that awakened avarice, mingled with the anxious wish to finish the undertaking and leave the place as soon as possible, could inspire in a mind at once greedy, suspicious, and timorous.

Edie, standing much at his ease by the side of the hole, contented himself with exhorting his associate to labour hard.

``My certie! few ever wrought for siccan a day's wage; an it be but--say the tenth part o' the size o' the kist, No.I., it will double its value, being filled wi' gowd instead of silver.Od, ye work as if ye had been bred to pick and shule--ye could win your round half-crown ilka day.Tak care o' your taes wi' that stane!'' giving a kick to a large one which the adept had heaved out with difficulty, and which Edie pushed back again to the great annoyance of his associate's shins.

Thus exhorted by the mendicant, Dousterswivel struggled and laboured among the stones and stiff clay, toiling like a horse, and internally blaspheming in German.When such an unhallowed syllable escaped his lips, Edie changed his battery upon him.

``O dinna swear! dinna swear! Wha kens whals listening!

--Eh! gude guide us, what's you!--Hout, it's just a branch of ivy flightering awa frae the wa'; when the moon was in, it lookit unco like a dead man's arm wi' a taper in't--I thought it was Misticot himsell.But never mind, work you away--fling the earth weel up by out o' the gate--Od, if ye're no as clean a worker at a grave as Win Winnet himsell! What gars ye stop now?--ye're just at the very bit for a chance.''

``Stop!'' said the German, in a tone of anger and disappointment, ``why, I am down at de rocks dat de cursed ruins (God forgife me!) is founded upon.''

``Weel,'' said the beggar, ``that's the likeliest bit of ony.It will be but a muckle through-stane laid doun to kiver the gowd --tak the pick till't, and pit mair strength, man--ae gude down-right devvel will split it, I'se warrant ye--Ay, that will do Od, he comes on wi' Wallace's straiks!''

In fact, the adept, moved by Edie's exhortations, fetched two or three desperate blows, and succeeded in breaking, not indeed that against which he struck, which, as he had already conjectured, was the solid rock, but the implement which he wielded, jarring at the same time his arms up to the shoulder-blades.

``Hurra, boys!--there goes Ringan's pick-axe!'' cried Edie ``it's a shame o' the Fairport folk to sell siccan frail gear.Try the shule--at it again, Mr.Dusterdeevil.''

The adept, without reply, scrambled out of the pit, which was now about six feet deep, and addressed his associate in a voice that trembled with anger.``Does you know, Mr.Edies Ochiltrees, who it is you put off your gibes and your jests upon?''

``Brawly, Mr.Dusterdeevil--brawly do I ken ye, and has done mony a day; but there's nae jesting in the case, for I am wearying to see ae our treasures; we should hae had baith ends o' the pockmanky filled by this time--I hope it's bowk eneugh to haud a' the gear?''

``Look you, you base old person,'' said the incensed philosopher, ``if you do put another jest upon me, I will cleave your skull-piece with this shovels!''

``And whare wad my hands and my pike-staff be a' the time?'' replied Edie, in a tone that indicated no apprehension.

``Hout, tout, Maister Dusterdeevil, I haena lived sae lang in the warld neither, to be shuled out o't that gate.What ails ye to be cankered, man, wi' your friends? I'll wager I'll find out the treasure in a minute;'' and he jumped into the pit, and took up the spade.

``I do swear to you,'' said the adept, whose suspicions were now fully awake, ``that if you have played me one big trick, Iwill give you one big beating, Mr.Edies.''

``Hear till him now!'' said Ochiltree, ``he kens how to gar folk find out the gear--Od, I'm thinking he's been drilled that way himsell some day.''

At this insinuation, which alluded obviously to the former scene betwixt himself and Sir Arthur, the philosopher lost the slender remnant of patience he had left, and being of violent passions, heaved up the truncheon of the broken mattock to discharge it upon the old man's head.The blow would in all probability have been fatal, had not he at whom it was aimed exclaimed in a stern and firm voice, ``Shame to ye, man!--do ye think Heaven or earth will suffer ye to murder an auld man that might be your father?--Look behind ye, man!''

Dousterswivel turned instinctively, and beheld, to his utter astonishment, a tall dark figure standing close behind him.

The apparition gave him no time to proceed by exorcism or otherwise, but having instantly recourse to the _voie de fait,_ took measure of the adept's shoulders three or four times with blows so substantial, that he fell under the weight of them, and remained senseless for some minutes between fear and stupefaction.