I'm gaun to hit ye, and then ye'll hae to fecht whether ye want it or no.

Tam, haud my jacket, and see that my drink's no skailed.' This was an infernal nuisance, for a row here would bring in the police, and my dubious position would be laid bare.

I thought of putting up a fight, for I was certain I could lay out the jock a second time, but the worst of that was that I did not know where the thing would end.

I might have to fight the lot of them, and that meant a noble public shindy.

I did my best to speak my opponent fair.