At length Long John grew excited.
"Man alive!" he exclaimed, "it's a quare father you are.

You may be thinking it disgrace, but the section will be proud that there is a boy in it brave enough to stand up for the weak against a brute bully." And then he proceeded to tell the tale as he had heard it from Don, with such strong passion and such rude vigor, that in spite of himself old Donald found his rage vanish, and his heart began to move within him toward his son.
"And it is for that," cried Long John, dashing his fist into his open palm, "it is for that that you would punish your son.

May God forgive me! but the man that lays a finger on Thomas yonder, will come into sore grief this day.

Ay, lad," continued Long John, striding toward Thomas and gripping him by the shoulders with both hands, "you are a man, and you stood up for the weak yon day, and if you efer will be wanting a friend, remember John Cameron." "Well, well, Mr.Cameron," said old Donald, who was more deeply moved than he cared to show, "it maybe as you say.

It maybe the lad was not so much in the wrong." "In the wrong ?" roared Long John, blowing his nose hard.