The big man interposed hurriedly.

"I've heard it afore, Tammas, I welly 'aye," he said.

Tammas paused and looked angrily up.

"Yo've heard it afore, have yo', Sam'l Todd?" he asked sharply.
"And what have yo' heard afore?"

"Yo' stories, owd lad--yo' stories o' Rex son o' Rally."

"Which on' em

"All on 'em, Tammas, all on 'em--mony a time. I'm fair sick on 'em,
Tammas, I welly am," he pleaded.

The old man gasped. He brought down his mallet with a vicious
smack.

"I'll niver tell yo' a tale agin, Sam'l Todd, not if yo' was to go on yo'
bended knees for't.

Nay; it bain't no manner o' use talkin'. Niver agin, says I."

"I niver askt yo'," declared honest Sam'l. "Nor it wouldna ha' bin no
manner o' use if yo' had," said the other viciously. "I'll niver tell yo'
a tale agin if I was to live to be a hunderd."

"Yo'll not live to be a hunderd, Tammas Thornton, nor near it,"