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Mr Paton, for I thought him juſtly blameable hindering the lad to meet with you; and if I ⟨had⟩ been in his place, I would have acted quite ⟨the⟩ reverſe; but I did never ſay that if you w(illegible text) come to Innerwick and employ me, that I w(illegible text) go all the way to Dumfries on ſuch an ⟨errand⟩ that is what never ſo much as entered into ⟨my⟩ thoughts. He anſwered, what were your ⟨thoughts⟩ I don't pretend to know, but I can depend on information, that theſe were your words; ⟨I⟩ ſee you are in ſome diſorder, I will wait ⟨on⟩ you when you have more preſence of mind.
By this time we were at James Dickſon's cloſure; below the church-yard, and when I ⟨am⟩ recollecting in my mind, if ever I had ſpoke (illegible text) words, I alledged he broke from me through ⟨the⟩ church-yard with greater violence than ever ⟨a⟩ man on horſe-back was capable of, with ſuch ſinging and buzzing noiſe, as put me in ⟨greater⟩ diſorder than I was all the time I was with (illegible text) I came to my houſe, and my wife obſerved ⟨more⟩ than ordinary paleneſs in my countenance. (illegible text) would alledge that ſome thing ailed me; I c(illegible text) for a dram, and told her I was a little ⟨unwell⟩. After I found myſelf a little refreſhed, I ⟨went to⟩ my cloſet to meditate upon this the moſt ⟨astonishing⟩ adventure of my whole life.
Upon the fifth of March, 1724, being at H(illegible text) head baptizing the ſhepherd's child, I came (illegible text) ſun-ſetting, or a little after, and near W(illegible text) White's march, the laird of Cool came up ⟨to⟩ me as formerly; and after his firſt ⟨falutation⟩ bade me not be afraid. I told him, I was ⟨not⟩ the leaſt afraid, in the name of God, and (illegible text)
