And why were ye thinking of him?
The English hanged him long since, as I have heard say.
_David Haggart_.

I was thinking that I should wish to be like him.
_Myself_.

Do ye mean that ye would wish to be hanged?
_David Haggart_.

I wad na flinch from that, Geordie, if I might be a great man first.
_Myself_.

And wha kens, Davie, how great you may be, even without hanging?
Are ye not in the high road of preferment?
Are ye not a bauld drummer already?
Wha kens how high ye may rise?
perhaps to be general, or drum-major.
_David Haggart_.