As he appeared through the morning mist, Brown, accustomed to judge of men by their thewes and sinews, could not help admiring his height, the breadth of his shoulders, and the steady firmness of his step.

Dinmont internally paid the same compliment to Brown, whose athletic form he now perused somewhat more at leisure than he had done formerly.

After the usual greetings of the morning, the guest inquired whether his host found any inconvenient consequences from the last night's affray.
'I had maist forgotten't,' said the hardy Borderer; 'but I think this morning, now that I am fresh and sober, if you and I were at the Withershins' Latch, wi' ilka ane a gude oak souple in his hand, we wadna turn back, no for half a dizzen o' yon scaff-raff.' 'But are you prudent, my good sir,' said Brown, 'not to take an hour or two's repose after receiving such severe contusions ?' 'Confusions!' replied the farmer, laughing in derision.

'Lord, Captain, naething confuses my head.

I ance jumped up and laid the dogs on the fox after I had tumbled from the tap o' Christenbury Craig, and that might have confused me to purpose.