Tae my surprise he began tae talk tae the stranger as if he'd kenned him a' his days.
"Put your knife in your pocket, Corporal," says he.

"Your fears have turned your brain." "Blood an' wounds!" says the other.

"He'd ha' turned my brain tae some purpose wi' that muckle stick o' his if I hadna drawn my snickersnee.
You shouldna keep siccan an auld savage on your premises." The maister he frooned and looked black at him, as though he didna relish advice comin' frae such a source.

Then turnin' tae me--"You won't be wanted after to-day, Israel," he says; "you have been a guid servant, and I ha' naething tae complain of wi' ye, but circumstances have arisen which will cause me tae change my arrangements." "Vera guid, sir," says I.
"You can go this evening," says he, "and you shall have an extra month's pay tae mak up t'ye for this short notice." Wi' that he went intae the hoose, followed by the man that he ca'ed the corporal, and frae that day tae this I have never clapped een either on the ane or the ither.

My money was sent oot tae me in an envelope, and havin' said a few pairtin' words tae the cook and the wench wi' reference tae the wrath tae come and the treasure that is richer than rubies, I shook the dust o' Cloomber frae my feet for ever.
Maister Fothergill West says I maunna express an opeenion as tae what cam aboot afterwards, but maun confine mysel' tae what I saw mysel'.