We're like a shark and a wolf that cannot meet to fight in the same element." Then he ran his finger down the buttons of his coat, and his eyes were smiling.

"We'll try the old way that laddies use on the village green.
Man, Andrew, I'm going to skelp you, as your mother skelped you when you were a breechless bairn," And he tossed his coat on the grass.
I could only follow suit, though I was black ashamed at the whole business.

I felt the disgrace of my conduct, and most bitterly the disgrace of the penalty.
My arm was too short to make a fighter of me, and I could only strive to close, that I might get the use of my weight and my great strength of neck and shoulder.

Ringan danced round me, tapping me lightly on nose and cheek, but hard enough to make the blood flow, I defended myself as best I could, while my temper rose rapidly and made me forget my penitence.

Time and again I looked for a chance to slip in, but he was as wary as a fox, and was a yard off before I could get my arm round him.
At last in extreme vexation, I lowered my head and rushed blindly for his chest.