dinary, they clink ye down for a wager as fast as a Lowland smith would hammer shoon on a Highland shelty. An' so the Laird behoved either to gae back o' his word, or wager twa hundred merks; and so he e'en took the wager, rather than be shamed wi the like o' them. And now he's like to get it to pay, and I'm thinking that's what makes him sae sweer to come hame at e'en."
"Indeed," said Lord Menteith, "from my idea of your family plate, Donald, your master is certain to lose such a wager."
"Your honour may swear that; an' where he's to get the siller I kenna, although he borrow out o' twenty purses. I advised him to pit the twa Saxon gentlemen and their servants cannily into the pit o' the tower till they gae up the bargain of free gude-will, but the Laird winna hear reason."
Allan here started up, strode forward, and interrupted the conversation, saying to the domestic in a voice like thunder, "And
