The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

R OB.R OY. 207
the success of his first onset, was sorely bested. The weight of his weapon,
the corpulence of his person, the very effervescence of his own passions,
were rapidly exhausting both his strength and his breath, and he was almost
at the mercy of his antagonist, when up started the sleeping Highlander
from the floor on which he reclined, with his naked sword and target in his
hand, and threw himself between the discomfited magistrate and his assailant, exclaiming, " Her nainsell has eaten the town pread at the Cross o'
Glasgow, and py her troth she'll fight for Bailie Sharvie at the Clachan of
Aberfoil-tat will she e'en!" And seconding his words with deeds, this
unexpected auxiliary made his sword whistle about the ears of his tall
countryman, who, nothing abashed, returned his blows with interest. But
being both accoutred with round targets made of wood, studded with brass,
and covered with leather, with which they readily parried each other's
strokes, their combat was attended with much more noise and clatter than
serious risk of damage. It appeared, indeed, that there was more of
bravado than of serious attempt to do us any injury; for the Lowland gentleman, who, as I. mentioned, had stood aside for want of an antagonist
when the brawl commenced, was now pleased to act the part of moderator
and peace-maker.
" Haud your hands! haud your hands! eneugh done! — eneugh done!
the quarrel's no mortal. The strange gentlemen have shown themselves
men of honour, and gien reasonable satisfaction. I'll stand on mine honour
as kittle as ony man, but I hate unnecessary bloodshed."
It was not, of course, my wish to protract the fray -my adversary
seemed equally disposed to sheathe his sword —the Bailie gasping for
breath, might be considered as hors de combat, and our two sword-andbuckler men gave up their contest with as much indifference as they had
entered into it.
"And now," said the worthy gentleman who had acted as umpire, " let
us drink and gree like honest fellows —The house will haud us a'. I
propose that this good little gentleman, that seems sair forfoughen, as I may
say, in this tuilzie, shall send for a tass o' brandy, and I'll pay for another,
by way of archilowe,* and then we'll birl our bawbees a' round about, like
brethreen."
"And fa's to pay my new ponnie plaid," said the larger Highlander, "wi'
a hole burnt in't ane might put a kail-pat through? Saw ever onybody a
decent gentleman: fight wi' a firebrand before?"
" Let that be nae hinderance," said the Bailie, who had now recovered
his breath, and was at once disposed to enjoy the triumph of having
behaved with spirit, and avoid the necessity of again resorting to such
hard and doubtful arbitremnent;-"Gin I hae broken the head," he said,
" I sall find the plaister. A new plaid sall ye hae, and o' the best -your
ain clan-colours, man,- an ye will tell me where it can be sent t'ye frae
Glasco."
- "I needna name my clan-I am of a king's clan, as is weel ken'd," said
the Highlander; "but ye may tak a bit o' the plaid - figh! she smells like
a singit sheep's head! - and that'll learn ye the sett- and a gentleman,
that's a cousin o' my ain, that carries eggs doun frae Glencroe, will ca' for't
about Marti'mas, an ye will tell her where ye bide. But, honest gentleman,
neist time ye fight, an ye hae ony respect for your athversary, let it be wi'
your sword, man, since ye wear ane, and no wi' thae het culters and fireprands, like a wild Indian."
"Conscience!" replied the Bailie, "every man maun do as he dow. My
sword hasna seen the light since Bothwell Brigg, when my father, that's
dead and gane, ware it; and I kenna weel if it was forthcoming then either,
for the battle was o' the briefest -At ony rate, it's glewed to the scabbard
* Archilowe, of unknown derivation, signifies a peace-offering.