right.'

'Zounds, man, if it be a point of honour,' said the lawyer, 'why
don't your landlords take it up?'

'I dinna ken, sir (scratching his head again); there's been nae
election-dusts lately, and the lairds are unco neighbourly, and
Jock and me canna get them to yoke thegither about it a' that we
can say; but if ye thought we might keep up the rent--'

'No! no! that will never do,' said Pleydell. 'Confound you, why
don't you take good cudgels and settle it?'

'Odd, sir,' answered the farmer, 'we tried that three times
already, that's twice on the land and ance at Lockerby Fair. But I
dinna ken; we're baith gey good at single-stick, and it couldna
weel be judged.'

'Then take broadswords, and be d--d to you, as your fathers did
before you,' said the counsel learned in the law.

'Aweel, sir, if ye think it wadna be again the law, it's a' ane to
Dandie.'

'Hold! hold!' exclaimed Pleydell, 'we shall have another Lord
Soulis' mistake. Pr'ythee, man, comprehend me; I wish you to
consider how very trifling and foolish a lawsuit you wish to
engage in.'

'Ay, sir?' said Dandie, in a disappointed tone. 'So ye winna take