He no sooner got up from the ground, but he mounted his mare like
a flash of lightning, and, enraged at the unknightly advantage which
yonder rascal had taken of his stumbling horse, he flew after him
like a dromedary. I could not but follow, both to prevent a second
stumble and secure our over bold friend and champion from the chance
of some ambush at the top of the hill. But the villain, who is a
follower of some Lord of the Marches, and wears a winged spur for
his cognizance, fled from our neighbour like fire from flint."

The senior bailie of Perth listened with surprise to the legend
which it had pleased Gow to circulate; for, though not much caring
for the matter, he had always doubted the bonnet maker's romancing
account of his own exploits, which hereafter he must hold as in
some degree orthodox.

The shrewd old glover looked closer into the matter. "You will
drive the poor bonnet maker mad," he whispered to Henry, "and set
him a-ringing his clapper as if he were a town bell on a rejoicing
day, when for order and decency it were better he were silent."

"Oh, by Our Lady, father," replied the smith, "I love the poor
little braggadocio, and could not think of his sitting rueful and
silent in the provost's hall, while all the rest of them, and in
especial that venomous pottingar, were telling their mind."

"Thou art even too good natured a fellow, Henry," answered Simon.
"But mark the difference betwixt these two men. The harmless little
bonnet maker assumes the airs of a dragon, to disguise his natural
cowardice; while the pottingar wilfully desires to show himself
timid, poor spirited, and humble, to conceal the danger of his temper.