They answered that a little blood letting would do nobody any harm,
neither would there be much of that, for they scorned to use any
weapon sharper than their fists or a good thick rung: the women
and children would take stones of course. Nobody would be killed,
but every meddlesome authority taught to let Scaurnose and fishers
alone. Peter objected that their enemies could easily starve them
out. Dubs rejoined that, if they took care to keep the sea door open,
their friends at Portlossie would not let them starve. Grosert said
he made no doubt the factor would have the Seaton to fight as well
as Scaurnose, for they must see plainly enough that their turn would
come next. Joseph said the factor would apply to the magistrates,
and they would call out the militia.
"An' we'll call out Buckie," answered Dubs.
"Man," said Fite Folp, the eldest of the three, "the haill shore,
frae the Brough to Fort George, 'll be up in a jiffie, an' a' the
cuintry, frae John o' Groat's to Berwick, 'ill hear hoo the fisher
fowk 's misguidit; an' at last it'll come to the king, an' syne
we'll get oor richts, for he'll no stan' to see't, an' maitters 'll
sane be set upon a better futtin' for puir fowk 'at has no freen'
but God an' the sea."
The greatness of the result represented laid hold of Peter's
imagination, and the resistance to injustice necessary to reach it
stirred the old tar in him.
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