My victory lasted scarcely a minute.

He flung me from him like a feather, then picked me up and laid on to me with the flat of his sword.
"Ye thrawn jackanapes," he cried, as he beat me.

"Ye'll pay dear for playing your pranks wi' John Donald." I was a child in his mighty grasp, besides having no breath left in me to resist.

He tied my hands and legs, haled me to his horse, and flung me sack-like over the crupper.

There was no more shamefaced lad in the world than me at that moment, for coming out of the din I heard a girl's light laughter..