I saw him not. Did any of you observe him?"

The reply was negative; and Henry's observation followed:

"There are times when Highlanders can couch like their own deer--
ay, and run from danger too as fast. I have seen them do so myself,
for the matter of that."

"And there are times," replied Simon, "when King Arthur and his
Round Table could not make stand against them. I wish, Henry, you
would speak more reverently of the Highlanders. They are often in
Perth, both alone and in numbers, and you ought to keep peace with
them so long as they will keep peace with you."

An answer of defiance rose to Henry's lips, but he prudently
suppressed it. "Why, thou knowest, father," he said, smiling,
"that we handicrafts best love the folks we live by; now, my craft
provides for valiant and noble knights, gentle squires and pages,
stout men at arms, and others that wear the weapons which we make. It
is natural I should like the Ruthvens, the Lindsays, the Ogilvys,
the Oliphants, and so many others of our brave and noble neighbours,
who are sheathed in steel of my making, like so many paladins,
better than those naked, snatching mountaineers, who are ever doing
us wrong, especially since no five of each clan have a rusty shirt
of mail as old as their brattach; and that is but the work of the
clumsy clan smith after all, who is no member of our honourable
mystery, but simply works at the anvil, where his father wrought
before him. I say, such people can have no favour in the eyes of
an honest craftsman."