The oppositeofthesepeopleare not, of course, those who allow every enthusiasm to run away with them, whose hearts always rule their heads, who go a-whoring after everything that is new.
But Mr Fraser was a devoted son of the borders, born in Carlisle and writing both fact and fiction about the ruffian-reivers and cattle-stealers of the region: men who, in their shameless venturing and whoring and disrespect for law, were quite a lot like old Flashy, except that they were brave.