What a success I am ! '' But nobody saw him . Then he began to feel a curious tingling sensation all over him . `` Now I am going to explode , '' he cried . `` I shall set the whole world on fire , and make such a noise that nobody will talk about anything else for a whole year . '' And he certainly did explode . Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! went the gunpowder . There was no doubt about it . But nobody heard him , not even the two little boys , for they were sound asleep . Then all that was left of him was the stick , and this fell down on the back of a Goose who was taking a walk by the side of the ditch . `` Good heavens ! '' cried the Goose . `` It is going to rain sticks '' ; and she rushed into the water . CHAPTER I I SET OFF UPON MY JOURNEY TO THE HOUSE OF SHAWS I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June , the year of grace 1751 , when I took the key for the last time out of the door of my father 's house . The sun began to shine upon the summit of the hills as I went down the road ; and by the time I had come as far as the manse , the blackbirds were whistling in the garden lilacs , and the mist that hung around the valley in the time of the dawn was beginning to arise and die away . Mr. Campbell , the minister of Essendean , was waiting for me by the garden gate , good man ! He asked me if I had breakfasted ; and hearing that I lacked for nothing , he took my hand in both of his and clapped it kindly under his arm .
`` Well , Davie , lad , '' said he , `` I will go with you as far as the ford , to XXXXX you on the way . ''
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