First of all--" "Hold thy peace, beast!" roared I.

"Keep it to thyself.

But tell me, what was he like ?" "If I be a beast," said he, mightily offended, "thou art like to hear that better from anyone else." "Your pardon," said I, "but my imagination is quick, and your horrible story well-nigh made me ill." He took this as a mighty compliment, and smoothed down forthwith.
"Ay, ay," said he, "some stomachs are squeamish, but I thought you one of the stout ones.

This fourth fellow, say you?
Marry, by the build of him he might be a brother of yours, for his feet dangled a foot nearer the ground than the others; and when it came to--" "Was he dark or fair ?" I asked hurriedly, frightened lest he should turn again to his horrible relation.
"Why, he had a shock of hair as like straw for colour as anything I saw.
I tell you no man knew his name.

Some said he was a Highlander.