(_An otter was run down and killed by three lads belonging to
Wanlockhead and Leadhills in the head of Pedan in the month of
August, 1915. Some people say I have made a mountain out of a
molehill in the following piece. I advise such to keep clear of the
jaws of an otter if ever they run up against one._)
Tae the hunt! Tae the hunt! Come haste ye away!
An otter's been seen on the Lowthers this day,
An' brave lads are wanted the beast tae destroy,
So it's Donal an' Archie an' Jock for the ploy.
They breisted the Lowthers like houn's frae the leash,
In their herts an' their minds there were nae thochts o' peace;
It was war, an' they cunnin'ly followed the trail
That led them away for the hichts o' Powtrail.
"Tally Ho! Tally Ho!" was the hunters' wild cry,
And speedily after the otter they hie;
Thro' heather an' breckins, thro' threshes an' bent
Regairdless o' danger oor brave trio went.
The chase it was stern and the chase it was lang
Wi' the race tae the swift and the fecht tae the strang;
They pressed him sae hard an' sae swiftly they ran
He was forced for tae hole in the heid o' Pedan.
He holed in the broo o' a pool in the burn,
Where water frae forking comes doon wi' a run:
They had run him to earth, o' that they'd nae doot,
The puzzle was noo hoo tae get the bruit oot.
Syne yin o' them stood at the heid o' the pool,
Anither yin takin' his stance at the fit,
While the third tried his best tae breck the broo doon,
Makin' use o' the tae an' the heel o' his buit.
At last he cam' oot, makin' fast up a drain
(For conveying the little springs intae the main),
But Archie was ready, an' took a sure aim,
An' knocked him doon deid wi' a big cobble stane.
Then here's tae the lads wha then did display
Sic courage an' speed at the huntin' that day;
An' lang may the tale roon the fireside be tauld
Hoo the otter was killed by oor three hunters bauld.