speech bewrays--"

"My speech! You are a wag--But I have got the stern post of a
dromond brought up the river from Dundee."

"The stern post of a Drummond!" exclaimed the armourer; "conscience,
man, it will put you in feud with the whole clan--not the least
wrathful in the country, as I take it."

"St. Andrew, man, you put me out! I mean a dromond--that is, a
large ship. I have fixed this post in my yard, and had it painted
and carved something like a soldan or Saracen, and with him I breathe
myself, and will wield my two handed sword against him, thrust or
point, for an hour together."

"That must make you familiar with the use of your weapon," said
the smith.

"Ay, marry does it; and sometimes I will place you a bonnet--an
old one, most likely--on my soldan's head, and cleave it with
such a downright blow that in troth, the infidel has but little of
his skull remaining to hit at."

"That is unlucky, for you will lose your practice," said Henry.
"But how say you, bonnet maker? I will put on my head piece and
corselet one day, and you shall hew at me, allowing me my broadsword
to parry and pay back? Eh, what say you?"

"By no manner of means, my dear friend. I should do you too much
evil; besides, to tell you the truth, I strike far more freely at