'Ha! ye are o' the New Toon; De'il tak ye, we'll moorder ye'; and the next moment a huge stone sung past my head.

'Let me be, ye fule bodies,' said I, 'I'm no of either of ye, I live yonder aboon in the Castle.' 'Ah! ye live in the Castle; then ye're an auld tooner; come gie us your help, man, and dinna stand there staring like a dunnot, we want help sair eneugh.

Here are stanes.' For my own part I wished for nothing better, and, rushing forward, I placed myself at the head of my new associates, and commenced flinging stones fast and desperately.

The other party now gave way in their turn, closely followed by ourselves; I was in the van, and about to stretch out my hand to seize the hindermost boy of the enemy, when, not being acquainted with the miry and difficult paths of the Nor Loch, and in my eagerness taking no heed of my footing, I plunged into a quagmire, into which I sank as far as my shoulders.

Our adversaries no sooner perceived this disaster, than, setting up a shout, they wheeled round and attacked us most vehemently.