act of rapine,
and the cattle were in the act of being driven off, when Butler, laying his
profession aside in a case of such necessity, put himself at the head of some of
his neighbours, and rescued the creagh, an exploit at which Deans attended in
person, notwithstanding his extreme old age, mounted on a Highland pony, and
girded with an old broadsword, likening himself (for he failed not to arrogate
the whole merit of the expedition) to David, the son of Jesse, when he recovered
the spoil of Ziklag from the Amalekites. This spirited behaviour had so far a
good effect, that Donacha dhu na Dunaigh kept his distance for some time to
come; and, though his distant exploits were frequently spoken of, he did not
exercise any depredations in that part of the country. He continued to flourish,
and to be heard of occasionally, until the year 1751, when, if the fear of the
second David had kept him in check, fate released him from that restraint, for
the venerable patriarch of St. Leonard's was that year gathered to his fathers.
    David Deans died full of years and of honour. He is believed, for the exact
time of his birth is not known, to have lived upwards of ninety years; for he
used to speak of events as falling under his own knowledge, which happened about
the time of the battle of Bothwell Bridge. It was said that he even bore arms
there; for once, when a drunken Jacobite laird wished for a Bothwell Brigg whig,
that »he might stow the lugs out of his head,« David informed him with a
peculiar austerity of countenance, that, if he liked to try such a prank, there
was one at his elbow; and it required the interference of Butler to preserve the
peace.
    He expired in the arms of his beloved daughter, thankful for all the
blessings which Providence had vouchsafed to him while in this valley of strife
and toil - and thankful also for the trials he had bean visited with; having
found them, he said, needful to mortify that spiritual pride and confidence in
his own gifts, which was the side on which the wily Enemy did most sorely beset
him. He prayed in the most affecting manner for Jeanie, her husband, and her
family, and that her affectionate duty to the puir auld man might purchase her
length of days here, and happiness hereafter; then, in a pathetic petition, too
well understood by those who knew his family circumstances, he besought the
Shepherd of souls, while gathering his flock, not to forget