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had scarce time to get to our feet before we were assailed； and in
a moment each one of us was engaged with an adversary whom the
deepening twilight scarce permitted him to see。 How the battle
sped in other quarters I am in no position to describe。 The rogue
that fell to my share was exceedingly agile and expert with his
weapon； had and held me at a disadvantage from the first assault；
forced me to give ground continually； and at last； in mere self…
defence； to let him have the point。 It struck him in the throat；
and he went down like a ninepin and moved no more。
It seemed this was the signal for the engagement to be
discontinued。 The other combatants separated at once； our foes
were suffered； without molestation； to lift up and bear away their
fallen comrade； so that I perceived this sort of war to be not
wholly without laws of chivalry； and perhaps rather to partake of
the character of a tournament than of a battle A OUTRANCE。 There
was no doubt； at least； that I was supposed to have pushed the
affair too seriously。 Our friends the enemy removed their wounded
companion with undisguised consternation； and they were no sooner
over the top of the brae； than Sim and Candlish roused up their
wearied drove and set forth on a night march。
'I'm thinking Faa's unco bad；' said the one。
'Ay；' said the other； 'he lookit dooms gash。'
'He did that；' said the first。
And their weary silence fell upon them again。
Presently Sim turned to me。 'Ye're unco ready with the stick；'
said he。
'Too ready； I'm afraid；' said I。 'I am afraid Mr。 Faa （if that be
his name） has got his gruel。'
'Weel； I wouldnae wonder；' replied Sim。
'And what is likely to happen？' I inquired。
'Aweel；' said Sim； snuffing profoundly； 'if I were to offer an
opeenion； it would not be conscientious。 For the plain fac' is；
Mr。 St。 Ivy； that I div not ken。 We have had crackit heids … and
rowth of them … ere now； and we have had a broken leg or maybe twa；
and the like of that we drover bodies make a kind of a practice
like to keep among oursel's。 But a corp we have none of us ever
had to deal with； and I could set nae leemit to what Gillies micht
consider proper in the affair。 Forbye that； he would be in raither
a hobble himsel'； if he was to gang hame wantin' Faa。 Folk are
awfu' throng with their questions； and parteecularly when they're
no wantit。'
'That's a fac'；' said Candlish。
I considered this prospect ruefully； and then making the best of
it； 'Upon all which accounts；' said I； 'the best will be to get
across the border and there separate。 If you are troubled； you can
very truly put the blame upon your late companion； and if I am
pursued； I must just try to keep out of the way。'
'Mr。 St。 Ivy；' said Sim； with something resembling enthusiasm； 'no'
a word mair！ I have met in wi' mony kinds o' gentry ere now； I hae
seen o' them that was the tae thing； and I hae seen o' them that
was the tither； but the wale of a gentleman like you I have no sae
very frequently seen the bate of。'
Our night march was accordingly pursued with unremitting diligence。
The stars paled； the east whitened； and we were still； both dogs
and men； toiling after the wearied cattle。 Again and again Sim and
Candlish lamented the necessity： it was 'fair ruin on the bestial；'
they declared； but the thought of a judge and a scaffold hunted
them ever forward。 I myself was not so much to be pitied。 All
that night； and during the whole of the little that remained before
us of our conjunct journey； I enjoyed a new pleasure； the reward of
my prowess； in the now loosened tongue of Mr。 Sim。 Candlish was
still obdurately taciturn： it was the man's nature； but Sim； having
finally appraised and approved me； displayed without reticence a
rather garrulous habit of mind and a pretty talent for narration。
The pair were old and close companions； co…existing in these
endless moors in a brotherhood of silence such as I have heard
attributed to the trappers of the west。 It seems absurd to mention
love in connection with so ugly and snuffy a couple； at least；
their trust was absolute； and they entertained a surprising
admiration for each other's qualities； Candlish exclaiming that Sim
was 'grand company！' and Sim frequently assuring me in an aside
that for 'a rale； auld； stench bitch； there was nae the bate of
Candlish in braid Scotland。' The two dogs appeared to be entirely
included in this family compact； and I remarked that their exploits
and traits of character were constantly and minutely observed by
the two masters。 Dog stories particularly abounded with them； and
not only the dogs of the present but those of the past contributed
their quota。 'But that was naething；' Sim would begin： 'there was
a herd in Manar； they ca'd him Tweedie … ye'll mind Tweedie；
Can'lish？' 'Fine； that！' said Candlish。 'Aweel； Tweedie had a dog
… ' The story I have forgotten； I dare say it was dull； and I
suspect it was not true； but indeed； my travels with the drove
rendered me indulgent； and perhaps even credulous； in the matter of
dog stories。 Beautiful； indefatigable beings！ as I saw them at the
end of a long day's journey frisking； barking； bounding； striking
attitudes； slanting a bushy tail； manifestly playing to the
spectator's eye； manifestly rejoicing in their grace and beauty …
and turned to observe Sim and Candlish unornamentally plodding in
the rear with the plaids about their bowed shoulders and the drop
at their snuffy nose … I thought I would rather claim kinship with
the dogs than with the men！ My sympathy was unreturned； in their
eyes I was a creature light as air； and they would scarce spare me
the time for a perfunctory caress or perhaps a hasty lap of the wet
tongue； ere they were back again in sedulous attendance on those
dingy deities； their masters … and their masters； as like as not；
damning their stupidity。
Altogether the last hours of our tramp were infinitely the most
agreeable to me； and I believe to all of us； and by the time we
came to separate； there had grown up a certain familiarity and
mutual esteem that made the parting harder。 It took place about
four of the afternoon on a bare hillside from which I could see the
ribbon of the great north road； henceforth to be my conductor。 I
asked what was to pay。
'Naething；' replied Sim。
'What in the name of folly is this？' I exclaimed。 'You have led
me； you have fed me； you have filled me full of whisky； and now you
will take nothing！'
'Ye see we indentit for that；' replied Sim。
'Indented？' I repeated； 'what does the man mean？'
'Mr。 St。 Ivy；' said Sim； 'this is a maitter entirely between
Candlish and me and the auld wife； Gilchrist。 You had naething to
say to it； weel； ye can have naething to do with it； then。'
'My good man；' said I； 'I can allow m