Even when mine host, catching sight of us, came to take our orders, they went on with their carouse and pulled their benches closer round the fire, with scarcely a blink our way.
As we sat apart, thawing our frozen limbs in the warmth of the room, and reviving our inner man with food and drink--we had staked nearly all we had on this meal--we could not forbear hearing some of the talk that went on at the fireside.
"By my valour," said the soldier, "I was there and saw it with my own eyes.

The old dotard turned the colour of my teeth when he looked up and spied it." "Ay, ay," said the merchant, "I know it was he.

I saw the lad in Cantire once, and a fine lad he was." "They tell me," said mine host, "a woman was at the bottom of it, as usual.

This Captain Merriman (who oweth me a pretty score for entertainment in this house), and this lad had a quarrel over a wench, and 'twas for that he pursued him as he did.

Why, sirs, for six weeks the lad lay hidden in a cave, and for a week more lay quick in a grave, before Sir Captain, who had never ceased to hunt him, caught him, and sent up his head to the Deputy here.