It reflects upon the Fair Town, and if it is neighbour Proudfute's
misfortune, it is our shame. I must to his rescue."
"We will all go to his rescue," answered Bailie Craigdallie; "but
let no man strike without order from me. We have more feuds on our
hands, it is to be feared, than we have strength to bring to good
end. And therefore I charge you all, more especially you, Henry
of the Wynd, in the name of the Fair City, that you make no stroke
but in self defence."
They all advanced, therefore, in a body; and the appearance of
such a number drove the plunderer from his booty. He stood at gaze,
however, at some distance, like the wolf, which, though it retreats
before the dogs, cannot be brought to absolute flight.
Henry, seeing this state of things, spurred his horse and advanced
far before the rest of the party, up towards the scene of Oliver
Proudfute's misfortune. His first task was to catch Jezabel by
the flowing rein, and his next to lead her to meet her discomfited
master, who was crippling towards him, his clothes much soiled
with his fall, his eyes streaming with tears, from pain as well as
mortification, and altogether exhibiting an aspect so unlike the
spruce and dapper importance of his ordinary appearance, that the
honest smith felt compassion for the little man, and some remorse
at having left him exposed to such disgrace. All men, I believe,
enjoy an ill natured joke. The difference is, that an ill natured
person can drink out to the very dregs the amusement which it
affords, while the better moulded mind soon loses the sense of the
ridiculous in sympathy for the pain of the sufferer.
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