, 1864-03-26
[FRoM WILSON'S TALES OF TIE BORDERS.
The Assassin.

At late hour Of an evening in the be-
ginning of the year 1860, mine host Of the
Stag aud Hounds, the principal hostelry Of
LinlithgOw at the period referred to, was
called from his liquor-the which liquor he
was at the moment enjoying with a few Sc
lcct friends who were assembled in the pub
lie room of the house-to receive traveller
who had just ridden up to the door.
On reaching the door, Andrew Nimmo
(such was the name Of mine hOst) found the
traveller had dismounted. lie was standing
by the head Of his horse, q powerful black
charger, and seemingly waiting for some one
to relieve him Of the animal.
This duty he now performed. lie took
hold of the bride, after word or two Of
welcome to his guest, and asked whether he
should put up his horse and supper him!
"What else have l come here for!" re-
piled the stranger, gruffly. "Surely put
him up; but l must see myself to his being
properly fed and tended. If we expect a
horse to do his duty, VIC must do our duty
by him. So lead the way, friend
Damped by the uncourteOus manner Of the
traveller, Andrew made no further reply than
muttered aco,iescence In the Justice Of the
rcmork inst made. but inst,ntlvled the horse
away towards the stable; calling out, as he
went, on John Ramsay, the Ostler, to come
out with the lantern, for it was pitch dark,
WhL ,bo scr,,;n;yin,, L,h;ts of his c,,l;no
mine host If Tho STAG and Uounds bad been
sccre.lv bn, an nx;ousIy endeavoriny IN make
out M: cnstomor. 10 arr;vc NJ sonc idea Of
HI .onl and nrofosS;or ;f bc h.J any Int
,ho dartncss nf tbe n;rbt nreycntcd him
from ma,;n~ more Thar tL,, be was a man
of t.l, sta,y,o and ho tboncbt of n s;n0u.
i"rlv s,crn asnec,
~, 1 So -.
"ne" ia.nsay nroSsn. nv Si', .O"e.
er, m'.e noS' co'a,nce i"'te' ,: anu. ""u 80 ~
portunlI'es oi Pulsu'ne n,s s'"I =. & Nle
s.ranGeri anu, DSs'ues M ... ,as I m,s .h. irer II
re'sarks \, connrmeu, now u,S.O.ere" @ tna. . ne
nau Tue ePpea!ancc u = pelson VI sonle
CONSIDERATION MS ufcss Dc''s 'ha' oi q se"'
ueihan'
r.Se me Dcas: :, mat ST. au'eaaureI .; ;n mnc
"vsV' "' - s"s"so VI so''o my "
standing together overlooking the operation
Of John Ramsay as he fed and Uttered the
animal whose noble proportions had elected
the remark. PGoria peas., sur, continued
better"
"Not often, friend, / dare say" replied
the stranger, who was standing erect, with
folded arms, and carefully marking every
proceeding Of the ostIer. "For a long run
and a swift, he is the animal for man to
trust his life to-" rtl
Mine host was startled o little by the turn
given to this remark it smclt somewhat,
he thought, Of the highway; or, at any rate,
seemed to carry with it somewhat suspi-
cious sort of reference. lie was, however,
much too prudent a man to exhibit any IN
dication Of an opinion so injurious to the
character Of his guest, and therefore merely
said, laughingly-" That he weel believed
that IL man waur in sic jeopardy as re-
quired his trusting to horse legs for his life,
he wad be safe aneuch on sic o beast as that,
especially II he got Onything o 3 reasonable
start" @
"Ycs, give him ten minutes Of start,
and there's not witch that ever rode over
North Berwick Law on broomstick that II
throw salt On his tail. let alone q horse and