e　roofs　of　two　or　three　houses；　they　at　length　descended　by　a　skylight　into　a　garret　room；　and　from　thence　by　the　stairs　into　a　public…house；　for　such　it　appeared；　by　the　ringing　of　bells；　whistling　for　waiters　and　attendance；　bawling　of　'House；　house；　here！'　　chorus　of　sea　songs；　and　the　like　noises。
  Having　descended　to　the　second　story；　and　entered　a　room　there　in　which　there　was　a　light；　old　Mr。　Trumbull　rang　the　bell　of　the　apartment　thrice；　with　an　interval　betwixt　each；　during　which　he　told　deliberately　the　number　twenty。　　Immediately　after　the　third　ringing　the　landlord　appeared；　with　stealthy　step；　and　an　appearance　of　mystery　on　his　buxom　visage。　　He　greeted　Mr。　Trumbull；　who　was　his　landlord　as　it　proved；　with　great　respect；　and　expressed　some　surprise　at　seeing　him　so　late；　as　he　termed　it；　'on　Saturday　e'en。'
  'And　I；　Robin　Hastie；'　said　the　landlord　to　the　tenant；　am　more　surprised　than　pleased；　to　hear　sae　muckle　din　in　your　house；　Robie；　so　near　the　honourable　Sabbath；　and　I　must　mind　you　that　it　is　contravening　the　terms　of　your　tack；　whilk　stipulates　that　you　should　shut　your　public　on　Saturday　at　nine　o'clock；　at　latest。'
  'Yes；　sir；'　said　Robin　Hastie；　no　way　alarmed　at　the　gravity　of　the　rebuke；　'but　you　must　take　tent　that　I　have　admitted　naebody　but　you；　Mr。　Trumbull　（who　by　the　way　admitted　yoursell）；　since　nine　o'clock　for　the　most　of　the　folk　have　been　here　for　several　hours　about　the　lading；　and　so　on；　of　the　brig。　　It　is　not　full　tide　yet；　and　I　cannot　put　the　men　out　into　the　street。　　If　I　did；　they　would　go　to　some　other　public；　and　their　souls　would　be　nane　the　better；　and　my　purse　muckle　the　waur；　for　how　am　I　to　pay　the　rent　if　I　do　not　sell　the　liquor？'
  'Nay；　then；'　said　Thomas　Trumbull；　'if　it　is　a　work　of　necessity；　and　in　the　honest　independent　way　of　business；　no　doubt　there　is　balm　in　Gilead。　　But　prithee；　Robin；　wilt　thou　see　if　Nanty　Ewart　be；　as　is　most　likely；　amongst　these　unhappy　topers；　and　if　so；　let　him　step　this　way　cannily；　and　speak　to　me　and　this　young　gentleman。　　And　it's　dry　talking；　Robinyou　must　minister　to　us　a　bowl　of　punchye　ken　my　gage；'
  'From　a　mutchkin　to　a　gallon；　I　ken　your　honour's　taste；　Mr。　Thomas　Trumbull；'　said　mine　host；　'and　ye　shall　hang　me　over　the　signpost　if　there　be　a　drap　mair　lemon　or　a　curn　less　sugar　than　just　suits　you。　　There　are　three　of　youyou　will　be　for　the　auld　Scots　peremptory　pint…stoup　for　the　success　of　the　voyage？'　　＇The　Scottish　pint　of　liquid　measure　comprehends　four　English　measures　of　the　same　denomination。　　The　jest　is　well　known　of　my　poor　countryman；　who；　driven　to　extremity　by　the　raillery　of　the　Southern；　on　the　small　denomination　of　the　Scottish　coin；　at　length　answered；　'Aye；　aye！　　But　the　deil　tak　them　that　has　the　LEAST　PINT…STOUP。'＇
  'Better　pray　for　it　than　drink　for　it；　Robin；'　said　Mr。　Trumbull。　'Yours　is　a　dangerous　trade；　Robin；　it　hurts　mony　a　anebaith　host　and　guest。　　But　ye　will　get　the　blue　bowl；　Robinthe　blue　bowlthat　will　sloken　all　their　drouth；　and　prevent　the　sinful　repetition　of　whipping　for　an　eke　of　a　Saturday　at　e'en。　　Aye；　Robin；　it　is　a　pity　of　Nanty　EwartNanty　likes　the　turning　up　of　his　little　finger　unco　weel；　and　we　maunna　stint　him；　Robin；　so　as　we　leave　him　sense　to　steer　by。'
  'Nanty　Ewart　could　steer　through　the　Pentland　Firth　though　he　were　as　drunk　as　the　Baltic　Ocean；'　said　Robin　Hastie；　and　instantly　tripping　downstairs；　he　speedily　returned　with　the　materials　for　what　he　called　his　BROWST；　which　consisted　of　two　English　quarts　of　spirits；　in　a　huge　blue　bowl；　with　all　the　ingredients　for　punch　in　the　same　formidable　proportion。　　At　the　same　time　he　introduced　Mr。　Antony　or　Nanty　Ewart；　whose　person；　although　he　was　a　good　deal　flustered　with　liquor；　was　different　from　what　Fairford　expected。　　His　dress　was　what　is　emphatically　termed　the　shabby　genteela　frock　with　tarnished　lacea　small　cocked　hat；　ornamented　in　a　similar　waya　scarlet　waistcoat；　with　faded　embroidery；　breeches　of　the　same；　with　silver　knee…　bands；　and　he　wore　a　smart　hanger　and　a　pair　of　pistols　in　a　sullied　swordbelt。
  'Here　I　come；　patron；'　he　said；　shaking　hands　with　Mr。　Trumbull。　'Well；　I　see　you　have　got　some　grog　aboard。'
  'It　is　not　my　custom；　Mr。　Ewart；'　said　the　old　gentleman；　'as　you　well　know；　to　become　a　chamberer　or　carouser　thus　late　on　Saturday　at　e'en；　but　I　wanted　to　recommend　to　your　attention　a　young　friend　of　ours；　that　is　going　upon　a　something　particular　journey；　with　a　letter　to　our　friend　the　Laird　from　Pate…in…　Peril；　as　they　call　him。'
  'Ayeindeed？he　must　be　in　high　trust　for　so　young　a　gentleman。　I　wish　you　joy；　sir；'　bowing　to　Fairford。　　'By'r　lady；　as　Shakespeare　says；　you　are　bringing　up　a　neck　for　a　fair　end。　Come；　patron；　we　will　drink　to　Mr。　What…shall…call…um。　　What　is　his　name？　　Did　you　tell　me？　　And　have　I　forgot　it　already。'
  'Mr。　Alan　Fairford；'　said　Trumbull。
  'Aye；　Mr。　Alan　Fairforda　good　name　for　a　fair　traderMr。　Alan　Fairford；　and　may　he　be　long　withheld　from　the　topmost　round　of　ambition；　which　I　take　to　be　the　highest　round　of　a　certain　ladder。'
  While　he　spoke；　he　seized　the　punch…ladle；　and　began　to　fill　the　glasses。　　But　Mr。　Trumbull　arrested　his　hand；　until　he　had；　as　he　expressed　himself；　sanctified　the　liquor　by　a　long　grace；　during　the　pronunciation　of　which　he　shut　indeed　his　eyes；　but　his　nostrils　became　dilated；　as　if　he　were　snuffing　up　the　fragrant　beverage　with　peculiar　complacency。
  When　the　grace　was　at　length　over；　the　three　friends　sat　down　to　their　beverage；　and　invited　Alan　Fairford　to　partake。　　Anxious　about　his　situation；　and　disgusted　as　he　was　with　his　company；　he　craved；　and　with　difficulty　obtained　permission；　under　the　allegation　of　being　fatigued；　heated；　and　the　like；　to　stretch　himself　on　a　couch　which　was　in　the　apartment；　and　attempted　at　least　to　procure　some　rest　before　high…water；　when　the　vessel　was　to　sail。
  He　was　at　length　permitted　to　use　his　freedom；　and　stretched　himself　on　the　couch；　having　his　eyes　for　some　time　fixed　on　the　jovial　party　he　had　left；　and　straining　his　ears　to　catch　if　possible　a　little　of　their　conversation。　　This　he　soon　found　was　to　no　purpose　for　what　did　actually　reach　his　ears　was　disguised　so　completely　by　the　use　of　cant　words　and　the　thieves…latin　called　slang；　that　even　when　he　caught　the　words；　he　found　himself　as　far　as　ever　from　the　sense　of　their　conversation。　　At　length　he　fell　asleep。
  It　was　after　Alan　had　slumbered　for　three　or　four　hours；　that　he　was　wakened　by　voices　bidding　him　rise　up　and　prepare　to　be　jogging。　　He　started　up　accordingly；　and　found　himself　in　presence　of　the　same　party　of　boon　companions；　who　had　just　dispatched　their　huge　bowl　of　punch。　　To　Alan's　surprise；　the　liquor　had　made　but　little　innovation　on　the　brains　of　men　who　were　accustomed　to　drink　at　all　hours；　and　in　the　most　inordinate　quantities。　　The　landlord　indeed　spoke　a　little　thick；　and　the　texts　of　Mr。　Thomas　Trumbull　stumbled　on　his　tongue；　but　Nanty　was　one　of　those　topers；　who；　becoming　early　what　bon　vivants　term　flustered；　remain　whole　nights　and　days　at　the　same　point　of　intoxication；　and；　in　fact；　as　they　are　seldom　entirely　sober；　can　be　as　rarely　seen　absolutely　drunk。　　Indeed；　Fairford；　had　he　not　known　how　Ewart　had　been　engaged　whilst　he　himself　was　asleep；　would　almost　have　sworn　when　he　awoke；　that　the　man　was　more　sober　than　when　he　first　entered　the　room。
  He　was　confirmed　in　this　opinion　when　they　descended　below；　where　two　or　three　sailors　and　ruffian…looking　fellows　awaited　their　commands。　　Ewart　took　the　whole　direction　upon　himself；　gave　his　orders　with　briefness　and　precision；　and　looked　to　their　being　executed　with　the　silence　and　celerity　which　that　peculiar　crisis　required。　　All　were　now　dismissed　for　the　brig；　which　lay；　as　Fairford　was　given　to　understand；　a　little　farther　down　the　river；　which　is　navigable　for　vessels　of　light　burden　till　almost　within　a　mile　of　the　town。
  When　they　issued　from　the　inn；　the　landlord　bid　them　goodbye。　Old　Trumbull　walked　a　little　way　with　them；　but　the　air　had　probably　considerable　effect　on　the　state　of　his　brain；　for　after　reminding　Alan　Fairford　that　the　next　day　was　the　honourable　Sabbath；　he　became　extremely　excursive　in　an　attempt　to　exhort　him　to　keep　it　holy。　　At　length；　being　perhaps　sensible　that　he　was　becoming　unintelligible；　he　thrust　a　volume　into　Fairford's　handhiccuping　at　the　same　time'Good　bookgood　bookfine　hymn…bookfit　for　the　honourable　Sabbath；　whilk　awaits　us　to…　morrow　morning。'　　Here　the　iron　tongue　of　time　told　five　from　the　town　steeple　of　Annan；　to　the　further　confusion　of　Mr。　Trumbull's　already　disordered　ideas。　　'Aye？　　Is　Sunday　come　and　gone　already？　　Heaven　be　praised！　　Only　it　is　a　marvel　the　afternoon　is　sae　dark　for　the　time　of　the　yearSabbath　has　slipped　ower　quietly；　but　we　have　reason　to　bless　oursells　it　has　not　been　altogether　misemployed。　　I　heard　little　of　the　preachinga　cauld　moralist；　I　doubt；　served　that　outbut；　ehthe　prayerI　mind　it　as　if　I　had　said　the　words　mysell。'　　Here　he　repeated　one　or　two　petitions；　which　were　probably　a　part　of　his　family　devotions；　before　he　was　summoned　forth　to　what　he　called　the　way　of　business。　　'I　never　remember　a　Sabbath　pass　so　cannily　off　in　my　life。'　　Then　he