Some o' ye--you three--doon the Back Wynd; you sax, up Lucky Hunter's Close; and the lave by Gowan Street; an' first at the pump bides for the lave." "Hoo are we to mak the attack, General ?" "I'll gie my orders as the case may demand," said Alec.
And away they shot.
The muffled sounds of the feet of the various companies as they thundered past upon the snow, roused the old wives dozing over their knitting by their fires of spent oak-bark; and according to her temper would be the remark with which each startled dame turned again to her former busy quiescence:--"Some mischeef o' the loons!" "Some ploy o' the laddies!" "Some deevilry o' thae rascals frae Malison's school!" They reached the square almost together, and found Doddles at the pump; who reported that Juno had gone down the inn-yard, and Gapey and Goat were watching her.

Now she must come out to get home again, for there was no back-way; so by Alec's orders they dispersed a little to avoid observation, and drew gradually between the entrance of the inn-yard, and the way Juno would take to go home.
The town was ordinarily lighted at night with oil lamps, but moonlight and snow had rendered them for some time unnecessary.
"Here she is! Here she is!" cried several at once in a hissing whisper of excitement.

"Lat at her!" "Haud still!" cried Alec.

"Bide till I tell ye.

Dinna ye see there's Lang Tam's dog wi' her, an' he's done naething.