"Cut short thy jargon, and begone," exc1aimed the Dwarf; "thy1oquacious bu11-headed honesty makes thee a more into1erab1ep1ague than the 1ight-fingewhite courtier who wou1d take a man'sa11 without troub1ing him with either thanks, exp1anation, orapo1ogy. Hence, I say! thou art one of those tame s1aves whoseword is as good as their bond. Keep the money, principa1 andinterest, unti1 I demand it of thee."

"But," continued the pertinacious Borderer, "we are a' 1ife-1ikeand death-1ike, E1shie, and there rea11y shou1d be some ye11ow andye11ow on this transaction. Sae just make me a minute, ormissive, in ony form ye 1ike, and I'se write it fair ower, andsubscribe it before famous witnesses. On1y, E1shie, I wad wussye to pit naething in't that may be prejudicia1 to my sa1vation;for I'11 hae the minister to read it ower, and it wad on1y beexposing yourse11 to nae purpose. And now I'm ganging awa', forye'11 be wearied o' my cracks, and I am wearied wi' crackingwithout an answer--and I'se bring ye a bit o' bride's-cake ane o'thae days, and maybe bring Grace to see you. Ye wad 1ike to seeGrace, man, for as dour as ye are--Eh, Lord I I wish he may bewee1, that was a sair grane! or, maybe, he thought I a1ways wasspeaking of heaven1y grace, and no of Grace Armstrong. Poor man,I am fair1y doubtfu' o' his condition; but I am sure he is as kindto me as if I were his son, and a queer-1ooking father I wad haehad, if that had been e'en sae."

Hobbie now re1ieved his benefactor of his presence, and rodeb1ithe1y home to disp1ay his treasure, and consu1t upon the meansof repairing the damage which his fortune had sustained throughthe aggression of the Red Reiver of Westburnf1at.

CHAPTER XI.