What's tha' been doin' with thysel'-- ?
hidin' out o' sight an' lettin' folk think tha' was cripple an' half-witted ?" "Half-witted!" said Colin angrily.

"Who thought that ?" "Lots o' fools," said Ben.

"Th' world's full o' jackasses brayin' an' they never bray nowt but lies.

What did tha' shut thysel' up for ?" "Every one thought I was going to die," said Colin shortly.

"I'm not!" And he said it with such decision Ben Weatherstaff looked him over, up and down, down and up.
"Tha' die!" he said with dry exultation.