From that day he thought more of his son, and of Alec as well.
"Noo, Curly," said Alec, as soon as he re-appeared with the empty sack, "yer father's gaein to lat me big a boat, an' ye maun help me." "What's the use o' a boat i' this weather ?" said Curly.
"Ye gomeril!" returned his father; ye never luik an inch afore the pint o' yer ain neb.

Ye wadna think o' a boat afore the spring; an' haith! the summer wad be ower, an' the water frozen again, afore ye had it biggit.

Luik at Alec there.

He's worth ten o' you.
"I ken that ilka bit as weel's ye do, father.

Jist set's aff wi' 't, father." "I canna attend till't jist i' the noo; but I s' set ye aff wi' 't the morn's nicht." So here was an end to the troubles of the townsfolks from the _loons_, and without any increase of the constabulary force; for Curly being withdrawn, there was no one else of sufficiently inventive energy to take the lead, and the loons ceased to be dangerous to the peace of the community.