Page:Life and adventures of David Haggart.pdf/20

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

20

and said, "Davie, do you ken me?" Haggart turned to the jailor, and in a master-piece of Irish broguo, said, "What does the man say?" "Don't you know him?" was the answer; he said he did not, but John persisted that he did. On the second day he was put in irons, and conducted by John and an Irish officer to Dumfries. They were three days and three nights on the road, and he experienced great kindness from the officers.

On their approach to Dumfries, which was in the dark, there were many thousands of people on the road, many of them with torches in their hands, waiting his arrival, and when he got to the jail-door, it was scarcely possible to get him out of the coach for the multitude - all crowding for a sight of Haggart the Murderer. Some seemed sorry, and some terrified for him; but there was not one of them all so sorry or so terrified as he was. Ho plunged through them, rattling his chains, and making a great show of courage, but his heart was shaking at the thought of poor Morrin. As he went up the narrow stair to the cells, he had to pass the very spot where he struck him, and oh! it was like fire under his feet.

Ho was locked up in his old cell, and the greater part of the Irish irons were taken off him. He was kept at Dumfries about three weck, during which he was twice examined before the Sheriff; but they could not get what they called a declaration out of him, for he knew that would be used against him, so ho thought it as well to keep his tongue within his teeth; but when the examination was over, ho offered to tell the whole of his story to them privately, and he did tell a good deal of it.

From Dumfries he was convoyed to Edinburgh Jail, and placed once more under the charge of