eleven o'clock
Finding his exertions this way vain , and that a continuance of them would only insure the dissolution of his favourite outer garment , the laird turned upon his enemy , and , making some hits at him with his stick -- `` Desert the diet , ye brute ; an ' bring yer action in a regular form , an ' accordin to law , '' he exclaimed , abruptly ; and , by a dexterous movement , avoiding a snap at his leg , which the dog at this moment made -- `` Tak yer mittimus , '' he said , discharging another violent blow at the animal , which , however , had only the effect of increasing the latter 's ferocity ; for the dog now fairly leaped on his back , and seizing him by the neck of the coat behind , laid him , in an instant , prostrate in the mud . Having thus got the laird down , the dog , without offering him further injury , planted a fore-leg on either side of him , and , with his muzzle within half-an-inch of his face , commenced a series of growls , `` not loud , but deep , '' that indicated anything but a friendly feeling towards his victim . Even in these circumstances , however , the laird 's deep sense of the propriety of proceeding strictly `` according to law '' in all cases did not desert him . Looking steadily at the dog , he thus addressed him , in a clear , loud voice , imitating , as nearly as he could , the tones of a court crier : -- `` I , John Guidyill , Laird o ' Scouthercakes , summon , warn , and charge you , Skimclean 's dug , to compear before His Majesty 's justices o ' the peace for the shire o ' Renfrew , within their ordinary court-place , in Paisley , upon the 12th day o ' October , 1817 , at eleven o'clock forenoon , to answer , at the instance o ' the above-designed Laird o ' Scouthercakes , for an illegal assault made on the said laird 's person , on the nicht o ' the 2d day o ' October , in the aforesaid year , or in the month o ' September preceding , or the month o ' November following . This I do on the 2d day o ' October , one thoosan aucht hunner an ' seventeen years , with certification as effeirs . John Guidyill . -- There , noo , ye 're regularly ceeted , '' added the laird ; `` sae desert the diet for the present ; an ' see that ye mak punctual compearance in the hoor o ' cause . ''