On the other side two small dilapidated home-made tents were pitched.

Dougal motioned his companion into the lean-to, where they had some privacy from the rest of the band.
"Well, what's your news ?" Dickson asked.

He noticed that the Chieftain seemed to have been comprehensively in the wars, for apart from the bandage on his jaw, he had numerous small cuts on his brow, and a great rent in one of his shirt sleeves.

Also he appeared to be going lame, and when he spoke a new gap was revealed in his large teeth.
"Things," said Dougal solemnly, "has come to a bonny cripus.

This very night we've been in a battle." He spat fiercely, and the light of war burned in his eyes.
"It was the tinklers from the Garple Dean.